MILAN. However it goes, it will be limited damage. So argue the two Milanese museums, Palazzo Reale and Gallerie d’Italia, to which the other day Russia suddenly asked for the return by March of the works of art loaned by the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
At the Royal Palace and its exhibition titled “Titian and the image of women in the Venetian sixteenth century”, which kicked off last February 22, the Russian museum has in fact requested back only two paintings. A small mole on the approximately one hundred works exhibited including paintings, art objects and sculptures that the public can continue to admire until June. The works that will take the way back to Russia are a painting signed by Titian, “Young woman with a plumed hat”, and “Young woman with an old man in profile”, signed instead by Giovanni Cariani, an artist of the period analyzed by the exhibition. “The scientific and artistic path remains – let the Palazzo Reale know – we are sorry for some important works, because otherwise we would not have requested them, but the exhibition remains absolutely standing even without it”. The economic damage then “does not exist”, given that the works were lent for free with a view to collaboration between the two museums and will be withdrawn by the Russians themselves by the end of March: it is not yet possible to know the exact date.
A similar speech, and the same non-burdensome result, for the 23 works requested from the Gallerie d’Italia, which are however a small part of the nearly 200 on display. Furthermore, the exhibition “Grand Tour – Italian dream from Venice to Pompeii” ends on March 27th. It would therefore be a question of depriving the public of the works for a short time, given that it is still close to the end. In this case we are dealing with five marble sculptures, a pair of pedestals and two bronzes, a mosaic table and five porphyry vases dating back to 1700. However, the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, also returned today: ” clear that I would have preferred that they had left the works at least until the end of the exhibitions that are in progress – explains the mayor – Instead from what I know they ask to come and pick them up and take care of their transport. I can only stay with what the government says, which is that it is theirs and must be returned. From what I understand it is a request that has already arrived in France ».