In a declaration made this Wednesday, June 7, the Louvre Museum in Paris announced that it is providing refuge to 16 significant works of art, a collection that includes Byzantine icons of profound historical significance dating back 1,500 years. This extraordinary measure is a proactive response by the French institution to ensure the safeguarding of these invaluable treasures originating from a museum in Kyiv amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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As global anxieties over the escalating conflict in Ukraine continue to rise, the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris has taken a proactive stance, coming forward in support of its Ukrainian counterparts. In the face of mounting adversity and cultural peril, the museum has embarked on a crucial endeavor to safeguard several works of art that stand threatened by the violence of war, President of the Louvre Laurence des Cars revealed.
In an era characterized by fear and devastation, this gesture, albeit small, signifies a potent symbol of camaraderie in the cultural sphere. Des Cars conveyed this sentiment while highlighting the perils threatening the artworks in Ukraine – perils that extend beyond direct harm from military action to include potential theft and illicit trafficking.
A key set of artworks that the Louvre has focused on protecting are five Byzantine icons housed in the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum, a distinguished national arts institution in Ukraine. The Parisian museum will act as the temporary custodian of these artifacts, with plans to showcase them from June 14 to November 6. These icons hold historical value dating back centuries. Four of them originated from the 6th and 7th centuries, hailing from Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt, while the fifth icon has its roots in Constantinople, dating back to the late 13th or early 14th century.
In addition to these five masterpieces, the Louvre will also safeguard 11 other Ukrainian works identified as both iconic and fragile. These will be securely stored within the museum’s reserves, a commitment extended “until the situation improves,” as per Des Cars.
This effort by the Louvre was revealed following a meeting held in October with a Ukrainian delegation, which included the head of the Khanenko Museum. This meeting coincided with a grim revelation from the UN cultural body, UNESCO, stating that 240 sites of cultural and historical significance in Ukraine had suffered damage due to the ongoing war.
Addint to the already dishearting news, October witnessed a close call when a rocket landed in the vicinity of the Khanenko Museum, causing significant damage that included shattered windows. The majority of the museum’s collection was moved into storage to prevent damage. However, even in storage, these works remain vulnerable to potential temperature variations resulting from intermittent power cuts.
The operation, which resulted in the rescue of 16 carefully selected works, was facilitated by the support of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas. It is a testament to the power of international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage amidst the chaos of war.
With AFP
