German Leadership

Men of Marble ?

?Heinrich Hoffmann (studio).

Adolf Hitler with the "Discobolus Palombara", a fine 1st century A.D. full-size copy in marble of the famed Greek sculptor Myron's original bronze of the 5th century B.C., now (like so many original classical Greek statues) lost. The "Discobolus" was one of the most admired sculptures of the ancient world, and copies of somewhat varying quality, and in a range of scales and media, survive from the Roman period. Hitler greatly admired this statue - he may have seen it first when visiting Rome - and very much wished to purchase it. This did not prove straightforward - the Italian Arts ministry and artistic community in general opposed the sale. However, "raisons d'état" eventually prevailed; Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano engineered the sale of the statue to Hitler in 1938, over the objections of his outraged colleague Arts Minister, for five million lire. The "Discobolus Palombara" was subsequently displayed in the Glypothek, Munich. It eventually returned to Italy in 1948, and is now the property of Italy's National Museum at Rome. It is displayed, very appropriately, in the Baths of Diocletian. Best regards, JR. PS - I will refrain from commenting in any way on the current state of Greco-German relations ... JR.