Venice court blocks loan of da Vinci's 'Vitruvian Man' to the Louvre

An administrative court in Venice decided on Tuesday to temporarily suspend the loan of Leonardo da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" to the Louvre in Paris for an exhibition that is set to open later this month.

Issued on: 09/10/2019 - 10:22Modified: 09/10/2019 - 14:41

People look at the "Vitruvian Man" a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci, in August 2013 in Venice. AFP - GABRIEL BOUYS

Text by: NEWS WIRES

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The move followed a request by the non-profit group Italia Nostra, which has been protesting the loan of the famed drawing by the Renaissance master from Venice's Accademia Gallery.

A final decision is set for October 16, just days before the exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo's death is set to open at the Louvre on October 24.

Italia Nostra, which campaigns for the protection of Italy's cultural treasures, argued that such a "precious and fragile" masterpiece should not leave Italy.

After the Minister of Culture had decided to lend the Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci from #Venice to France, the TAR court decided the drawing is to fragile to travel. Well done. https://t.co/Gzb0yJ9Kwu #getaguideforthedetails #leonardodavinci #UomoVitruviano pic.twitter.com/Gt8lHN0642
— See Venice Tours (@luisella_romeo) October 9, 2019

The Culture Ministry called the decision "incomprehensible."

Culture Minister Dario Franceschini signed a memorandum in September securing the loan in exchange for a work by Raphael for an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of his death next year in Rome.

"The Vitruvian Man," Leonardo's famed study of human proportions, is normally kept out of public view in climate-controlled conditions, but was exhibited at the Accademia Gallery from April through July as part of events marking the anniversary of his death.

(AP)