Merovingian art at the Pushkin: WW2 trophies come out of the closet

The issue of "trophy art" has been a source of tension between Russia and Germany since World War II. But a new exhibition at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts called "Era of the Merovingians: Europe Without Borders" puts politics aside to showcase objects that have been in storage for more than six decades.

The exhibition, which opens to the public on Tuesday, features around 1,200 artifacts connected with the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled much of present-day France and Germany from the 5th to the 8th centuries. Most of the pieces on display were stored in a Berlin bunker during World War II and taken to the Soviet Union by the victorious Red Army in 1945.

From the Moscow Times. The BBC has some pictures of show highlights here.

Posted by David on March 13, 2007 11:03 AM