A Monuments Man
As in the film "The Monuments Men" (2014) written, directed, produced and performed by George Clooney - a Secret Agent helped to save innumberable artworks taken by the Nazis from Italian Museums, destined for Hitler's Museum in Germany. The name of this Monuments Man is Rodolfo Siviero.
The Thefts for Hitler's Museum
During World War II, Nazi troops belonging to General Hermann Goering's division stole many important artworks from Italian museums and storage facilities. They claimed they took them to insure their safety. They sent many paintings to Berlin in order to create the Museum of the Führer. They pursued this project by confiscating artworks from lands they conquered.
The Capodimonte Paintings
In 1943 the Nazis were forced to return a portion of the stolen treasure to Italy. However, fifteen paintings of Capodimonte - together with artworks from other Museums - remained hidden in Germany. In fact, Titians' "Danae" had become part of Goering's private collection. In this story we present to you the works stolen by the Nazis from Capodimonte, and recovered with the aid of the Monuments Man.
The Recovery
At the end of the war Rodolfo Siviero, head of the Interministerial Office for the Recovery of Artworks, went to Germany to find the lost masterpieces. The paintings were found in the salt mine at Altaussee, near Salzburg and were brought to Monaco. They were returned to the Italian government on 7 August 1947.
Tap to explore
Now these paintings are exhibited at Capodimonte and you can see them during your visit to the Museum.
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Curated by Francesca Santamaria
Thanks to the Educational Department of the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte
