Simkovicova: Bust Made by Donatello Safe and Sound, We Need to Assess its Value

Levoca/Bratislava, 4 June (TASR) - The rare marble bust depicting Cecilia Gonzaga is safe, Culture Minister Martin Simkovicova (SNS nominee) assured the public in the Spis region on Wednesday. The bust, attributed by experts to the Renaissance sculptor Donatello, was recently removed from Levoca. However, according to the minister, it is not yet clear where the bust will be exhibited and presented to the public, as the ministry first wants to determine its value. „Experts warned that the bust was located in a basement, behind bars, and that an alarm went off in the building at the end of February. There is serious concern that someone attempted to steal it," noted Simkovicova, confirming that the transport was carried out by an expert group in accordance with the law. The minister criticized the previous leadership of the Slovak National Museum (SNM) and the Culture Ministry for not taking action to protect the bust. According to her, the goal is to preserve the artwork and eventually present it to the public. However, it's still unclear whether this will be in Levoca or the capital city, seeing as several professional and security requirements must be met before the bust can be displayed. mf