March 13, 2009
The Elgin Marbles in 1890
In a change from looking at current news articles, I have come across two interesting pieces about the Parthenon Marbles from the New York Times in 1890.
If you skim over the rather sycophantic writing style used in the articles, there are a number of interesting aspects to these pieces – firstly, most of the arguments then are exactly the same as they are now – & are answered just as clearly then as they are now.
Interestingly, the two papers in the UK pressing for the return of the marbles were the London Standard (now the Evening Standard) & the Daily Telegraph – two of the papers that are now generally seen as opposing restitution.
Finally, the argument at that time seems in many ways more admirable than it is now – there was no consideration that anything should be asked for in return, & it was suggested that Britain ought to bear any costs of the return – that they were the ones to be doing the honourable thing, rather than getting bogged down in negotiations & exchanges.
The fact that similar argument for return were being used over one hundred years ago ought to finally convince those people who suggest that the clamours for the restitution of the marbles is only a recent phenomenon (with the implication being that if they ignore it then it will go away again).
Read scans of the original articles by following the links below.
- The British Museum still has to deal with old issues : April 11, 2008
- Should the Elgin Marbles issue be settled in court? : June 29, 2008
- Did people really think Elgin’s removal of marbles was legal : December 3, 2014
- Spurious arguments about the Elgin Marbles : June 30, 2009
- Why the “No Marbles – No flame” flame campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures won’t succeed : May 9, 2012
- How do museums create their collections : February 4, 2008
- The Elgin Marbles in Malta : November 20, 2007
- Why Jane Austen’s ring is a weaker case than the Parthenon Marbles : September 25, 2013
Christine McCann said,
03.17.09 at 1:03 am
The even earlier British Parliamentary proceedings follow the same line of thought as well, although not without opposition. Cf. Jeanette Greenfield 1995, The Return of Cultural Treasures, pp. 58-65.
The Parliamentary Committee which was convened in 1816 to determine whether or not the British government would and could purchase Elgin’s collection of artefacts wrote a report, which makes clear that Elgin abused his authority as ambassador to collect the artefacts, having acquired them through means not available without abuse. Mention of return as well as allowing “asylum” in the UK were also discussed. Of course, we all know their choice.
Greenfield also points out many other interesing points regarding these early matters, such as who opposed the British acquisition and why.