Continuing to repatriate stolen idols, the National Gallery of Australia on Wednesday announced it would return 14 works of art from its Asian art collection to the Indian government. These works of art include 13 objects connected to art dealer Subhash Kapoor through his ‘Art of the Past’ gallery and one, a bronze (child-saint Sambandar) from a Tamil Nadu temple, acquired from art dealer William Wolff, said an official release. The works include six bronze or stone sculptures, a brass processional standard, a painted scroll and six photographs. Tamil Nadu would get back two 12th century Chola-era bronzes — the child-saint Sambandar, stolen from the Sayavaram temple in Sirkali in Tamil Nadu and the dancing child-saint Sambandar, also from TN. The other works of art belong to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and UP. Another three sculptures sourced from Art of the Past have also been removed from the collection, the Gallery release said.

Further research will be undertaken to identify their place of origin before they are repatriated. Following this action, along with the repatriation of works in 2014, 2016 and 2019, the National Gallery will no longer hold any works acquired through Subhash Kapoor in its collection. “The decision to return the works is the culmination of years of research, due diligence and an evolving framework for decision-making that includes both legal principles and ethical considerations,” said the release. “The latest round of restitutions from the NGA mark an end to our decade long battle with them for transparency and accountability of their Kapoor acquisitions,” said Vijay Kumar of India Pride Project.

News Source : The Print