woolybanana Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 The Royal Academy in London is in dire financial straits and needs to save some £8 million which involves a couple of hundred redundancies.One proposal is that they should sell a unique artwork known as the Tondo, by Michelangelo, the only piece of his in the country, to raise cash.So, should we sell our great pieces of art to save jobs? My gut tells me no, but what do others think? Should France sell the Mona Lisa, for example? It has been suggested.https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/sep/20/royal-academys-cruel-dilemma-sell-a-michelangelo-or-lose-150-jobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I suppose one could argue that they belong to the world, not just one country. After all Michelangelo wasn't English nor Leonardo French.Does this simply reflect the declining wealth and power of the two old Colonial powers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFB Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Why not. ARM, Jaguar, you name them, they are all sold at the drop of a hat. Why should not a work of art made by an Italian outside the UK!JFB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Might as well ask whether Britain should hand the Elgin marbles back to Greece? A one word answer would do, Wooly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted September 24, 2020 Author Share Posted September 24, 2020 No, no, they are artworks, part of national heritage, belong to the people. Jaguars are just not very nice cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 WHOSE "national heritage" would that be then?I thought they were part of a frieze of some GREEK temple? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroTr@sh Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Why not?They could put conditions on the sale if they want, such as that the item must be accessible to the public and not in a private collection.I presume the only reason they own it at present is because they were able to afford to buy it/were bequeathed it by someone who was able to afford to buy it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 Well, it is an anomaly in their collection. Perhaps it might go to a national museum but could they afford to buy it? Definitely not abroad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 As far as I am concerned if it is in London it is already 'abroad'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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