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Show STOLEN ART COMING TO U. S. Many Churches In Italy Robbed of Their Treasures During the War. Rome. The recent robberies of valuable val-uable paintings from St. Peter's basilica basili-ca at Perugia and Etruscan gold jewelry jew-elry from the museum of Corneto, as well as thefts of minor works of art from small churches in Tuscany, are suspected to be due to the Increased demand for Italian works of art abroad, and especially in America. In fact, despite the war, art dealers in Italy are doing a profitable business. Many American Buyers for museums and collectors in the United States are now in Italy. An ancient statue has been sold for $160,000 in Rome, two figures by Donatello have letched $200,000 in Florence, and Bimilar big deals in paintings and sculptures have been made in Venice and other cities. It is admitted that business transactions transac-tions in works of art with American buyers have been aboveboard and legal, le-gal, but it is believed that art dealers' agents resort to robbery to satisfy their customers. Since mobilization the Italian churches and museums are not so well guarded as before. It is probable that the fine art department will suspend the granting of exportation exporta-tion permits during the remainder of the war. |