A fresh dispute has erupted over the origins of the ancient bronze statue known as Victorious Youth, currently housed at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles, with Italian cultural authorities now questioning whether the statue was created by the famed Greek sculptor Lysippos.
The statue, believed to have been recovered from the Adriatic Sea in 1964, has long been at the center of a legal and cultural battle between Italy and the Getty Trust, with Italy demanding its return under claims of illegal export.
Massimo Osanna, Italy’s Director General of Museums, recently raised new doubts regarding the statue’s attribution. Speaking to The Times, Osanna argued that there is no concrete evidence supporting the claim that the statue was created by Lysippos, despite stylistic similarities. “We have no evidence it was by Lysippos apart from a vague stylistic similarity,” Osanna said. “The name is not correct.”
The statue, which depicts a naked youth crowned with a wreath, has been on display at the Getty Villa since it was purchased by the Getty Trust in 1977 for nearly $4 million. Since its discovery by fishermen off the coast of Fano, Italy, in 1964, it has become a symbol of the town, which has long claimed ownership of the artwork. Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the town of Fano continues to identify the statue as the work of Lysippos, and it is affectionately referred to as the “Lisippo” by locals.
The attribution to Lysippos has been a point of contention for decades. In the 1970s, the Getty’s curator, Jiri Frel, defended the attribution, but over time, a number of archaeologists, including Rachele Dubbini from the University of Ferrara, have argued against it. Dubbini pointed out that the quality of the metalwork did not meet the high standards expected from Lysippos, suggesting that the statue may have been a later copy of his work.
Osanna has suggested that the statue is indeed an ancient copy of a Lysippus original but stressed that this did not diminish its value. “It is an extraordinarily important work because there are so few surviving ancient bronzes,” Osanna told The Times. While acknowledging that the statue’s identity is deeply tied to Fano’s heritage, Osanna urged that Italians move away from the “obsession of searching for celebrated names” when evaluating its historical significance.
The dispute has stirred strong feelings in Fano, where the statue is regarded as a key part of the town’s identity. “The statue is by Lysippos. Why would the Getty have bought it if it weren’t?” asked Giampiero Patrignani, editor of the Lisippo magazine in Fano. Marco Berardi, head of the local Lisippo travel agency, echoed the sentiment, stating, “The statue has a special space in the hearts of Fano’s people. I heard they want to change its name, but it will always be the Lisippo for us.”
The Getty Trust, for its part, has consistently defended its ownership of the statue. A statement released earlier this year reaffirmed its legal right to possess the Victorious Youth, asserting that the statue was neither created by an Italian artist nor found within Italian territory. “If necessary, the Getty will continue to defend its possession of the statue in all relevant courts,” the note read.
In response, Osanna urged the Getty to “assume its responsibility,” suggesting that a diplomatic solution might be reached. He also proposed the creation of a new museum in Fano to house the statue and other significant archaeological works. Oscar Mei, scientific coordinator of the Centre of Vitruvian Studies in Fano, expressed optimism that the recent developments could pave the way for a resolution. “It’s too early to celebrate, but I hope we can now find a diplomatic solution,” Mei said.
The dispute over the Victorious Youth is not only a matter of cultural heritage but also raises important questions about the ownership and repatriation of art. As both Italy and the Getty Trust continue to assert their claims, the statue’s future remains uncertain, though Fano’s residents hold out hope that their beloved Lisippo may one day return home.
Main Image: Unknown artist/maker Statue of a Victorious Youth, 300–100 B.C.Bronze with inlaid copper Object: 151.5 × 70 × 27.9 cm, 64.4108 kg (59 5/8 × 27 9/16 × 11 in., 142 lb.)The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection, Malibu, California, 77.AB.30
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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