The Getty’s troubled landscape

Re “Getty Had Signs It Was Acquiring Possibly Looted Art, Documents Show,” Sept. 25

The J. Paul Getty Museum is getting a lot of heat for what most other major international museums did to build their collections; the Getty just did it much later on.

The issue of returning ancient art to the geographical location of its origin is one that seems to be an issue of property rights.

The Egyptian government revealed a glimpse into a possible future solution with the success of its much-ballyhooed new tour of King Tut’s treasures. Egypt allowed the treasures to travel; at the same time, its government received an immediate financial return by requiring $20 million up front from the show’s organizers and participating presenting institutions.

Moreover, Egypt quietly kept a few major pieces from traveling (such as Tut’s famous funerary mask), allowing the traveling exhibit to enhance such key works’ position as tourism magnets back home.

BEN BARBASH

Los Angeles