“2025 could be decisive for the return of the charter of Villeneuve-sur-Lot”: will Michel Gonelle bring the document from New York back to the bastide?

And it is through his wishes for this new year that he believes that the year 2025 “could see incredible developments in the progress on the question of restitution of works of art to their countries of origin. And that also concerns Villeneuve-sur-Lot and its charter of 1287″.

As a fine connoisseur of the work of historians but also as a lawyer, he constantly studies the publications, mainly Anglo-Saxon, concerning these restitutions. “The world by 2025” is the title of a report published in the New York magazine “The Economist” which gives him confidence in the future. “This important report refers to the UN decision to designate 2025 as the year of quantum science and technology. Among the themes discussed concerning the European continent, an article will attract the attention of Villeneuvois about the cultural property of works or objects of art. This article indeed addresses the important question of heritage restitution which will accelerate in 2025.

The example of progress in the restitution of the Parthenon marbles

The Parthenon Marbles are, in Europe, one of the biggest problems that exist regarding the restitution, or not, of works of art to their country of origin. These marbles have not moved from the British Museum in London since their purchase from Lord Elgin in 1816. “These sculptures, which still represent half of the marbles of the temple of Athens, are at the center of the most famous world conflict over the links cultural since Greece officially demanded their restitution in 1983” specifies Michel Gonelle.

In 2025, these prestigious marbles could end up moving since “many arguments opposing their restitution have been refuted”. By studying the various polls carried out in Great Britain, it appears that 49% of British people are in favor of their restitution and only 15% believe that they should remain in the United Kingdom. “The British Museum itself as well as the government seem ready to return them” observed Michel Gonelle during his research. “The current directors of the museum declare themselves prepared for a long-term loan of these famous sculptures in exchange for which Greece could lend other ancient works. The long-term loan is, perhaps, a solution for the charter.”

“The case law has progressed in this matter”

In fact, a wave of restitutions has already occurred around the world following this controversy; for the benefit of Italy, Turkey, Cambodia, Nigeria from German, American and British museums. “Objects are starting to be returned to Cameroon, Indonesia and Nepal…”.

And to add to a certain optimism, it is then the lawyer who speaks. “It's even better. Legal actions have advanced jurisprudence in this area. In New York, the “Antiquities Trafficking Unit” of the Manhattan Prosecutor, Cyrus Vance, who today became a lawyer at the Paris bar , invoked New York State law for the return of improperly exported items. Restitution is no longer a dirty word For many familiar with the subject, the idea of ​​the museum as a “prison cell.” where objects go to die” has itself become a historical relic”.

It is this whole set of facts and declarations that makes Michel Gonelle optimistic. “This singularly reinforces the very legitimate approach of the commune of Villeneuve-sur-Lot to obtain the return of the original of its founding royal charter which sleeps, without knowing the slightest visitor, in a library of the American University of Columbia in New York. Happy New Year 2025 to our charter to reach, after so many centuries, the banks of the Lot”.