Experts Demand Investigation into Bust's Relocation and Its Return to Levoca

Bratislava, 9 June (TASR) - The expert public is demanding an investigation into the transport of the bust of Cecilia Gonzaga, a collection object of the Slovak National Museum (SNM) - Spis Museum in Levoca (Presov region), to the premises of the Interior Ministry in the municipality of Topolcianky (Nitra region), also requesting the return of the bust to the museum in Levoca. "The law on museums and galleries states that museums and galleries are responsible for the protection and security of collection objects. The Culture Ministry, as the founder, is obliged to provide the finances and space so that museums and galleries can carry out this expert protection and ensure that collection objects are secure," cultural anthropologist Ivana Rumanova told a press briefing on Monday, pointing out that the law stipulates the only possible case in which this power can be taken over by the Culture Ministry, which is the declaration of an emergency or crisis, which could include, for example, a natural disaster, a state of war or a fire. "These conditions haven't been met, certainly not by the alarm that was triggered at the end of February, as the ministry claims," she added. Rumanova noted that according to Culture Ministry State Secretary Tibor Bernatak, when the bust was taken over in Levoca, there was no signed contract with the museum, only an acceptance protocol. "However, it is a fixed part of the contract, without which it has no legal relevance. The Culture Ministry and Mr. Bernatak refer to a safekeeping arrangement, but this is also conditional on the signing of a safekeeping agreement, which hasn't taken place," stated Rumanova. The bust of Cecilia Gonzaga was transported from the Slovak National Museum (SNM) - Spis Museum in Levoca on 29 May. According to the ministry, the transport was in compliance with all security and legal standards. The ministry reportedly moved the bust to a highly protected location where it should have appropriate protection. It announced that international expertise will be consulted to confirm the authorship of the work. [Experts have stated that the bust was probably sculpted by Renaissance master Donatello. - ed.note] am/df