Zeus and Ganymede

This Canosian Terracotta Zeus and Ganymede was consigned for sale to a major US based auction house in 2015. Research indicated that the sculpture was depicted in the infamous Becchina Archive.

Art Recovery International’s Christopher Marinello notified the auction house who cooperated by pulling the item from the sale. The Italian authorities were notified and a civil release was obtained from the consignor. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) formally seized the sculpture for eventual return to the Republic of Italy. After only four years of bureaucratic wrangling, the sculpture was finally repatriated to Italy in 2019. While there was no media coverage, and thankfully, no Indiana Jones nonsense, a private “thank you” over an espresso in Rome was much appreciated indeed.