Two stolen Tamil Nadu idols make their way back from Australia

CHENNAI: Continuing to repatriate stolen idols, the National Gallery of Australia on Wednesday announced it would return14 works of art from its Asian art collection to the Indian government. These include 13 objects connected to art dealer Subhash Kapoor through his Art of the Past gallery and one, a bronze (childsaint 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 12 century Cholaera 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 items belong to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and UP.
Three other sculptures sourced from the 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, 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 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.
The National Gallery has introduced a new provenance assessment framework. If, on the balance of probability, it is considered likely that an item was stolen, illegally excavated, exported in contravention of the law of a foreign country, or unethically acquired, the National Gallery will take steps to deaccess and repatriate, read the release.
“Museums know that India is serious about pursuing its stolen art unlike in the past and we hope other museums, collectors, auction houses and dealers realise this,” Vijay Kumar told TOI.
National Gallery of Australia director Nick Mitzevich said the actions demonstrated the National Gallery’s commitment to being a leader in ethical management of collections. The release quotes the Indian High Commissioner to Australia Manpreet Vohra welcoming the decision by the Australian government and the National Gallery.