The Italian state has acquired the celebrated François Tomb from Vulci for €15 million, with the deed of sale signed at the culture ministry in Rome on Friday.
In a statement, culture minister Alessandro Giuli descibed the François Tomb as “one of the most important masterpieces of Etruscan and ancient painting”, which will soon be enjoyed by the public. The tomb will be placed on permanent display at the National Etruscan Museum at Villa Giulia in Rome from 25 June, when a major exhibition dedicated to the monument will open.
The acquisition was made possible through collaboration with the heirs of the Torlonia, Sforza Cesarini and Gaetani families, the monument’s previous owners, and was overseen jointly by the Directorate General of Museums, led by Massimo Osanna, and Villa Giulia’s director, Luana Toniolo.
Giuli described the purchase as closing a process that began over a century ago: the Italian state had first expressed an interest in acquiring the François Tomb as long ago as 1921.
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