Exhibitions: L'arma per L'arte

Stolen Italian antiquities and artworks are about to go on display in Rome, Naples and Florence as part of celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Carabinieri division responsible for tracking them down.

In Naples, the exhibition is entitled 'Archeologia che torna' and will take place in the Palazzo Reale from 8th May until 30th September. As well as stolen archaeological finds it will feature objects from clandestine excavations. A large number are southern Italian or Etruscan in origin, their dates range from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD. Objects from Pompeii will include the fresco of a 'female figure' stolen from the House of Fabius Rufus around 1975 and recovered in 2008 and the double bronze herm (faun and Satyr) stolen in 1988 and recovered just a few months later.

In Rome, the Castel Sant'Angelo will host 'Antologia di meraviglie' from 10th September 2009 to 30th January 2010.
In Florence, 'Aspetti del sacro' can be seen in the Sala Bianca of the Galleria Palatina at Palazzo Pitti from 21st November 2009 until 6th April 2010.

I don't have any more time today to share the details with you, but you can read more about the exhibitions here:

• 1969 – 2009: 40 anni di attività del Comando Carabinieri Tutela Patrimonio Culturale. The illustration above is from this site.
• I Carabinieri “spada a difesa dei musei”.