The wealth and quality of the cultural heritage that makes Italy an “Open Museum” comes with a big responsibility to constantly defend and guard it. Old treasures, smuggled from Italy and recently recovered by Guardia di Finanza (a special police corps that reports directly to the Minister of Economic and Financial Affairs), will be on display at the Embassy of Italy.
Alexander Nagel, PhD, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Anthropology, will present the lecture “Drinking, Dining, and Displaying: Feasting, Food and Wine in Ancient Rome”.
RSVP
Please click on “Make a Reservation” by February 27, 2015 at 2 PM
Reservations are available until we reach
capacity or by the above date/time (whichever comes
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ON VIEW – BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: FEB 27 – MAY 15
February 27 through May 15, 2015
(Monday to Friday from 10am-12noon/2pm-4pm)
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: email reservations requests at iicwashington@esteri.it
When you email your reservation request, please provide the following:
date
time
name of each guest
PLEASE NOTE: the date and time you request may not be available. You will receive a confirmation email. Not open on weekends or holidays.
PHOTO ID REQUIRED
LOCATION
Embassy of Italy – Auditorium
3000 Whitehaven Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
MORE INFO
The Exhibition
These artifacts have been recovered and returned to the public’s enjoyment thanks to the synergy between the Guardia di Finanza, the Magistratura and the Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali e del Turismo. This exhibition demonstrates, in the simplest and most direct way, the productivity of the dialogue and the cooperation among Italian Government agencies dedicated to safeguarde and valorize cultural heritage.
Lecture by Alexander Nagel, PhD
Drinking, Dining, and Displaying: Feasting, Food and Wine in Ancient Etruria
The Etruscans have left us with a spectacular world of images of feasting, dining and wine drinking. Thousands of drinking vessels and colorful wall paintings provide unique insights into the daily life of the people of Italy some 2,500 years ago. This richly illustrated lecture will introduce what modern archaeology and technology contributes to understand about the ways the food and drink containers were used, illustrate the Etruscan diet of meat, eggs, cheese and bread, and highlight the role wine held in Etruscan daily life.
About Guardia di Finanza
Guardia di Finanza (Financial Guard) is an Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Ministry of Economy and Financial Affairs and part of the Italian armed forces. The Guard is responsible for dealing with financial crimes and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy’s primary agency for suppressing the drugs trade. The Financial Guard maintains over 600 boats and ships and more than 100 aircraft to serve in its mission of patrolling Italy’s territorial waters.
Guardia di Finanza: Protecting Art for One Hundred Years
1916
Establishment of “Detachments” and “Mobile Units”
The “Detachments” of Valle del Mezzano (under the control of the Tenenza di Comacchio) and the “Mobile Units” of Tarquinia and Ladispoli are established with the activation of the Regolamento 30 Gennaio 1913 n. 363, regarding the services of police dealing with archeology and antiques.
On the night of March 28th, in the Church of Saint Peter in Perugia, the small wooden boards of the predella of the Polittico dell’Ascensione by Perugino (1445/50-1523) are stolen.
1922
Compliments from the Duce and praise from D’Annunzio
A series of terracotta sarcophaguses from the necropolis in the San Pietro locality are recovered in Tuscania (VT). One of these is brought to Rome and displayed at the Museo Civiltà Etrusca (today the “Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia”), by the initiative of Felice Barnabei (1842 -1922), founder of the institute in 1889. Benito Mussolini congratulates the Regia Guardia di Finanza “[…] on its defense of Italic cultural assets”. The operation also receives praise from Gabriele D’Annunzio, who had already coined the Guardia di Finanza’s motto in 1920: “Nec recisa recedit”.
1925
Greater protection of the borders
In the document Foglio d’Ordini n. 2 del 17 Gennaio, a recommendation is issued by the Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione to all units of the Corps for a more rigorous vigilance of the State’s borders, intended to stem the clandestine exportation of “[…] items of the highest value, which are not legally permitted to leave the country”.
1926
Recovery of the “boards” by Perugino
The Ministro delle Finanze praises the “Investigative Tributary Police” (P.T.I.) of the Regia Guardia di Finanza for the discovery and sequestration– at the Bologna train station’s rail yard– of paintings by Perugino (1445/50 -1523) that were stolen from Perugia in 1916.
1928
The “Nuclei di Polizia Tributaria” are assigned the task of protecting Artistic Patrimony
The D.M. del 30 novembre regarding the Riordinamento del servizio di Polizia Tributaria – in art. 2 – assigns the “Nuclei” the task of “participating in the protection of the National Artistic Patrimony”.
1930
Criminal conspiracies that damage the Artistic Patrimony are introduced into the Penal Codes
With the R.D. n. 1398, art. 706 (“Commercio clandestino di cose antiche”) and art. 733 (“Danneggiamento al patrimonio archeologico, storico o artistico nazionale”) are introduced into the Penal Codes.
1932
Establishment of other “Detachments” and “Mobile Units”
The “Detachment of Vulci” is established in the countryside around the commune of Montalto di Castro (VT) in Etruria for the purpose of protecting the necropoleis in the territory (Canino, Tessennano, Cellere, Tuscania ecc.). Next, the other “archeological police mobile units” are established in Cerveteri, Spina, Selinunte, Segesta, Canosa and Paestum.
1939
Following the Law “1° giugno 1939, n. 1089”
Law n. 1089 (“Tutela delle cose di interesse artistico e storico”) goes into effect, with which “[…] the Superintendents, the Honorary Inspectors and the Mayors can ask for the judiciary police’s intervention so that they may proceed with the investigation of the clandestine excavation. If the excavation proves to be illicit, the police can sequester the excavation tools and archeological artifacts”.
1946
Rodolfo Siviero is nominated “Ministro Plenipotenziario”
The President of the Council of Ministers, Alcide De Gasperi, nominates Rodolfo Siviero as “Minister Plenipotentiary”, putting him in charge of directing a diplomatic mission with the allied military government in Germany with the goal of starting the return of artwork stolen from Italy during World War II. The activity is coordinated in the residence Lungarno Serristori, today known as Casa Siviero.
1948
The “Fiamme Gialle” at Siviero’s side
The “Sezione delegazione per restituzione opere d’arte” is established in Florence, within the Nucleo Regionale, derivation for the Guardia di Finanza of the homonymous “Commissione interministeriale” directed by Siviero.
The Section is eliminated in 1972 and the “Sezione Tutela Patrimonio Artistico” is established within the Comando di Firenze.
1959
The task of protecting Artistic Patrimony is extended to every division of the Corps
Art. 319 of the “Bozza di Stampa” (Regolamento di servizio della Guardia di Finanza) assigns the task of “participating in the protection of the National Artistic Patrimony” to every division of the Corps.
1963
Aerial fly-overs in areas of clandestine emergencies
The General Command of the Guardia di Finanza, with the nota n. 69855/267 del 28 giugno, advocates the operational activity of the territorial departments in the particular sector of the protection of artistic assets. It also orders, as an experiment, the use of helicopters for the recognition and surveillance of areas of archeological interest by day, and the establishment of “Sezioni mobile di polizia archeologica”, within the Nuclei Polizia Tributaria of Viterbo and Taranto. The Guardia di Finanza recommends that information about illicit traffic in high-risk areas be diffused and that information be continuously exchanged with the Superintendents.
1971
The recovered “Raffaello”
The “Ritratto di Eleonora Gonzaga della Rovere” by Raffaello Sanzio (1483 – 1520) is returned to Italy from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (U.S.A.). It had been illegally exported in 1969. The customs officers meet the painting at the Fiumicino airport and turn the painting over to the Ambassador Mario Bondioli Osio, President of the Commissione interministeriale per il recupero delle opere d’arte. The work is conserved at the Uffizi.
1972
The “Sezione Patrimonio Artistico” is established within the Nucleo Centrale di Roma
The “Sezione Tutela Patrimonio Artistico” is established within the Nucleo Centrale Polizia Tributaria in Rome. It is the precursory department of the “Gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Archeologico”. The responsibilities concerning cultural assets within the “Nuclei” had been up until this point entrusted to the “Various Services Group.” The workforce of the new Section consists of an officer (with the title of “Lieutenant”) and three sub-officials.
Analogous departments are established within the Nuclei Regionali di Polizia Tributaria of Venice and Florence. In Genoa, Milan, Turin, Bologna, Naples and Palermo, squads are established instead.
1973
Carpaccio’s polyptych is recovered
The famous polyptych called the “del Padreterno” by Vittore Carpaccio (1465 – 1525) is recovered. It had been stolen from Pieve di Tisoi (BL).
1974
1st gold medal goes to the Guardia di Finanza for the “Benemeriti della Scuola, della Cultura e dell’Arte”
In occasion of the 200th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Corps, the President of the Republic, based on a proposal by the Ministro della Pubblica Instruzione, concedes to the Guardia di Finanza the Diploma di 1^ classe (Gold medal). This award is for the “Benemeriti della Scuola, della Cultura e dell’Arte”, for “having exercised preventative and repressive protection defending the national historical-artistic patrimony and, in particulary, for the action of spreading knowledge about protection problems to military staff.
For similar reasons, the Guardia di Finanza receives six more awards.
1975
General Lauro’s recommendations
In the first edition of the operational compendium “Servizi extratributari della Guardia di Finanza” the General Fulberto Lauro advises the militants who want to work in the Protection of Artistic Patrimony compartment “[…]The sector at hand evidently requests, besides love and passion, much responsibility, for which it is necessary to study and teach oneself the material. In this way, the spiritual and cultural level of the militants will be elevated: it is advised that you read good publications and frequent State museums”.
1976
Recovery of the “Santa Margherita” by Guercino
Clamorous recovery of the painting “Santa Margherita di Antiochia” by Guercino (1591 – 1666), stolen a few months earlier from the church of San Pietro in Vincoli, in Rome, next to the famous “Moses” by Michelangelo.
1977
Recovery of the reliquary by Donatello
Recovery of the reliquary bust of San Rossore by Donatello (1386 – 1466), now at the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, in Pisa.
1980
The “Centro Repressione Frodi” is created, with art-protecting squads
In Rome, the protection of artistic patrimony is entrusted to a cell of the Centro Repressione Frodi, called S.P.Ex.E.G. (“Servizio Polizia Extratributaria ed Entrate Generali”), formed by two squads (the first for antiques, archeology and numismatics; the second for repressing forgery of contemporary art and for monitoring pieces sold by auction houses).
1985
S.O.S. Caravaggio
The Guardia di Finanza receives a request from the Malta Police to collaborate, in Italy, in the search for the famous San Girolamo by Caravaggio, stolen the year before from the Cattedrale di San Giovanni in La Valletta. The work is discovered in Florence in 1987.
1988
Moving the headquarters
The “Sezione Tutela Patrimonio Artistico” of Rome is transferred to the Complesso Villa Pamphilj, on the hills of the homonymous communal park.
1990
The altarpiece by Lorenzo Lotto and the Kouros of Reggio Calabria are recovered
December 2nd. Festival bells ring during the night in Sedrina di Bergamo: the altarpiece by Lorenzo Lotto (1480 – 1557), stolen a month earlier from the San Giacomo parish, is incredibly recovered in Agrate, in the area around Milan, skillfully hidden (in the tablecloth of the sacristy!) inside an automobile of Germany nationality.
During an operation by the tributary police, the Guardia di Finanza discovers and sequesters the so-called “Kouros of Reggio Calabria”, an outstanding masterpiece of Hellenic art in Italy.
1995
Robbery in the Vatican
Recovery of the body of paintings (Giovanni Bellini, Jean Gossaert and other masters of the Flemish school) stolen from the Vatican Pinacoteca.
1999
Memorandum with the Region of Sicily for underwater recoveries
In Palermo a Protocollo d’intesa is signed with the Region of Sicily for the protection of underwater artwork. The aero-naval component of the Corps offers a significant synergic contribution to the carrying out of vigilance activities in primary areas of underwater archeological interest, to the mapping of wreckage and planks and to the recovery of submersed assets, even with the use of scuba-diving militants.
2000
The “Comando Unità Speciali” is created in Rome
In Rome, the protection of artistic patrimony works under the control of the newly constituted “Comando Unità Speciali”, and more specifically in an operative component called the “Gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Archeologico”, put under the control of the “Nucleo Speciale Servizi Extratributari”. The new department is composed of two operative Sections with national expertise, with the possibility of collaborating with the various foreign police departments assigned with the task of protecting cultural assets.
The famous “Sarcofago di Endimione” (second century AD) is recovered in the Roman countryside between Cave and Palestrine.
2004
Following the “Urban Codes”
With the so-called “Urban Codes” (D. Lgs. 22 gennaio 2004, n. 42 – “Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio”), Italy is provided with a unitary legislation, understood as the systematic collection of laws regarding cultural patrimony; therefore, a single law that integrates the “Paesaggio”, which is considered a historical-artistic entity equal to other national assets.
The “Gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Archeologico” of the Guardia di Finanza goes under the control of the “Nucleo Regionale Polizia Tributaria Lazio”, which in 2006 becomes the “Nucleo Polizia Tributaria Roma”.
2005
Canaletto: an international detective mystery
“Il Canal Grande da Palazzo Balbi al Ponte di Rialto” is the title of the hypnotic masterpiece by Canaletto (1697-1768). It was sequestered by the Guardia di Finanza because it was accompanied by fictitious documentation that attested its foreign provenance. It was, in fact, a painting exported clandestinely in the nineties and reintroduced into Italy – under the system of free circulation – with the connivance of a London auction house.
2007
The return of the “Gladiators”
January. Sequestration of the so-called “Rilievo dei Gladiatori”, a decorative freeze of a mausoleum from the Republican Age clandestinely excavated in the area of Fiano Romano. It was recuperated at the last minute right before being sent to Switzerland, hidden in a shipping container.
2008
The “Sarcofago delle Muse” reappears
The intervention by the customs officers of Via dell’Olmata interrupts a clandestine excavation of the sepulchers on Isola Sacra, just before the Tevere’s estuary. The objective of the tomb raiders was the “Sarcofago delle Muse”, a sepulchral box considered to be a unique example of funerary Roman art.
2009
“Il rilievo di Mitra”: a last minute recovery
March. The Guardia di Finanza stops the robbery of the so-called “Rilievo del dio Mitra da Veio”, destined to the Sino-Japanese market.
2011
Recovery of the colossal statue of Caligula
Sequestration of the colossal statue of Caligula. The opera was reduced into sections to be stowed in a shipping container headed for Geneva.
2012
“Il sarcofago di Aquino” and the “Stipe votiva di Pantanacci”
The famous “Sarcofago delle Quadrighe”is repatriated from London. It had been taken from Pieve di Aquino (FR) more than twenty years before.
The votive deposit by Pantanacci is discovered in the area surrounding Lanuvio (RM). The intervention by the Fiamme Gialle consents the recovery of another 3,000 works of art destined for the clandestine antiquarian market.
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