THE ELGIN MARBLES [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] '$m,
=Your note on the restoration of the Elgin marbles to Greece will no doubt find an echo in the hearts of many generous but perhaps impulsive readers who agree with you that no act of international generosity is wasted. But the more immediate effects of this particular act should not be left out of consideration. That these marbles would be properly valued and protected by the Greeks of to-day requires no guarantee. The splendid national museum at Athens, the smaller collections at the Acropolis, at Olympia, Delphi and many less frequented historic sites are a sufficient assurance of this. But would the result be satisfactory to any but the Greeks ; and would it even content them ? The question would be raised—why not also restore the more valuable contents of the four vase rooms, and the previous gold and jewellery of Mycenae and Acgina ; and many other admirable objects which are now so conveniently accessible to students in one building ? And what about other nations ? Is it not almost a certainty that the .Egyptians would expect the like treatment, and apply for the restoration of much of our rich collection of their monu- mental and domestic art and (even more plausibly) the mortal remains of their supposititious ancestors. I need not pursue this argument nor apply it also to the National Gallery. For it seems certain that by one act of amiable weakness we might provoke claims which, if unsatisfied, would bring upon us a good deal more of the envy, hatred and malice of our friends and neighbours that we at present experience. It really seems that it would be well to let the matter rest until that probably distant day when Germany and the United States, having joined the League of Nations, a self-denying ordinance for a general repatriation of alienated works of art may at least be discussed.—I am, Sir, &c.,
EDWARD BELL.
Hampstead, N.W.
Previous page
