The director of the british museum has provoked anger by suggesting the removal of.
British museum elgin marbles statement.
Popularly known as the elgin marbles.
Following a vote of parliament the british museum was allocated funds to acquire the collection.
The elgin marbles are british owned purchased by the crown from lord elgin in 1816 and presented by parliament to the british museum.
Plus explore collection online for detailed descriptions of objects.
The elgin marbles on display at the british museum in london mr dowden s letter seen by the sunday telegraph comes after a summer of cultural clashes over britain s colonial past.
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The greek government has asked for a loan of the sculptures which has been turned down by the british museum.
Issued a statement on saturday condemning fischer s legitimate.
Lord elgin began negotiations for the sale of the collection to the british museum in 1811 but negotiations failed despite the support of british artists after the government.
Art world the british museum says it will never return the elgin marbles defending their removal as a creative act hartwig fischer s statements are already drawing international backlash.
Elgin marbles collection of ancient greek sculptures and architectural details in the british museum london where they are now called the parthenon sculptures.
The objects were removed from the parthenon at athens and from other ancient buildings and shipped to england by arrangement of thomas bruce 7th lord elgin who was british.
Lord elgin s activities were thoroughly investigated by a parliamentary select committee in 1816 and found to be entirely legal.
When the marbles were shipped to england they were an instant success among many who admired the sculptures and supported their arrival but both the sculptures and elgin also received criticism from detractors.