For negotiations between Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna and his Acropolis Museumintended to return from two fragments of the Parthenon in Greece, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Sulenberg said at a press conference yesterday after meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias.

In particular, according to Reuters, Mr. Sulenberg said he was “very pleased” that there were “technical discussions” between the two museums that involved “mutual borrowings” involving two fragments from the north frieze of the Parthenon, which are in Vienna. “I am very optimistic,” he added, “that the negotiations can go very quickly and that the Marble will be exhibited in Athens.”

For its part, the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendiasnoting that the meeting with Mr. Sullenberg discussed ways to combat the illicit circulation of cultural property and protect cultural heritage, expressed “deep satisfaction” with his colleague’s statement about the two Viennese fragments.

“I have to say that this will add a number of very symbolic gestures, perhaps creating a positive momentum,” Mr. Dendias said, referring to the recent June 2022 reunion of the Fagan fragment from Sicily and the last three fragments. March to Athens from the Vatican. “It is of great importance for us,” the minister continued. “And also,” he added, “beyond what we believe, we have already created momentum that we could use in our discussions in London, which I hope I will eventually be able to successfully carry out.”

Greek request

However, although yesterday’s press conference talked about “mutual loans” between the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Acropolis Museum, information from Greece does not quite converge in this direction. “With regard to the Acropolis Museum, the same tactics were used as in Sicily and in the Vatican. In other words, a request to permanently reunite the fragments at the Acropolis Museum without loan terms.” said “K” Museum director Nikos Stampolidis.

According to the information, Greece’s request to the Kunsthistorisches Museum appears to have been formulated after Pope Francis announced last December that he would “gift” Archbishop Jerome three fragments of the Parthenon that were in the Vatican Museums. The Austrian Museum has not yet sent a written response to Greece and has not responded to our request for comment.

Fragments

The first fragment depicts two Antichrist “thallophoras”, i.e. two elderly people who, as prominent citizens of Athens, took part in the Great Panathenaic procession, holding an olive branch in their hands, and on the second, slightly larger fragment, two young riders and a horse’s head are depicted.

As to their origin, the Vienna Museum first mentions Morosini’s bombardment of the Parthenon in 1687 and notes that the two fragments belonged to Archduke Francis Ferdinand, to whom they were bequeathed by the Marquis Tommaso degli Obici, who, along with his series, kept them in his collection at the Catajo Castle in Padua.