In 1967 the artistically crafted marble head of a woman was found in Austrian Styria. But where this “Faustina” baptized portrait head came from was initially unclear. Only years later did it become clear that this sculpture came from the ancient basilica of Apollonia in what is now Libya. Now the woman’s head, which was probably stolen in World War II, is returning to his homeland.
It is not an isolated case: During the Second World War, the German troops and also the SS systematically stole works of art in many occupied countries and brought them to Germany. These stolen art treasures include valuable paintings as well as archaeological finds and works of art from antiquity. In the case of many of these abducted works of art, it is still difficult to reconstruct their original origin and the circumstances in which they were stolen.
Where does the portrait head come from?
“It is always amazing how long it takes to come to terms with injustice suffered in World War II,” explains Wolfgang Muchitsch, scientific director of the Universalmuseum Joanneum. “This requires the analytical eye of a younger generation of scientists who critically question their own collection and its provenance.” “Faustina” is such a case found. The woman’s head was acquired by the Landesmuseum Joanneum in Graz and examined more closely by the then regional archaeologist Walter Modrijan and by experts from the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.
Even then, the excellent sculptural work and the high quality of the material suggested that this work of art could not be a local product. In 1973 the German archaeologist Klaus Fittschen succeeded in assigning this woman’s head baptized “Faustina”. He had found out through comparisons that this sculpture must originally have come from the eastern basilica of the ancient town of Apollonia in what is now Libya. For in historical documents there were reports of such a portrait, which was made in Apollonia between 175 and 190 AD. However, the portrait bust was thought to have been lost during World War II. Under what circumstances this happened and whether the head was actually the “Faustina” from the Joanneum, remained unclear.
Return to Libya
That is why the archaeologist Barbara Porod, together with the person responsible for restitution and provenance research at the Joanneum, Karin Leitner-Ruhe, followed the trail of the woman’s head and worked on her history over many years. According to this, the ancient work of art was actually verifiably in the Museum of Apollonia in Libya until the Second World War. However, there is no clear evidence that the portrait head was brought out of the country and to Austria by the National Socialist occupiers of Libya between 1941 and 1943.
On the basis of this knowledge and a legal examination, the commission for the return and recovery of works of art and cultural goods passed the resolution that this ancient woman’s head is not a case of restitution within the meaning of the corresponding state constitutional law. Nevertheless, the commission recommends donating and returning the “Faustina” to the state of Libya. On March 4, 2021, the ancient woman’s head was therefore presented in Vienna to the Libyan ambassador Jalal Alashi as a gift from the State of Styria to Libya.
“It is particularly important to me that there is an active discussion of the issue of restitutions in our museums,” says Christopher Drexler, State Councilor for Culture, Europe, Sport and Personnel in Styria. “Even if the antique woman’s head ‘Faustina’ is not a proven case of restitution, the exact circumstances of how the work of art found its way to Styria are still unclear. We therefore want to take responsibility and ensure that Faustina, who was stolen in all probability during the Second World War, returns to her proven place of origin and is made available to the population and research in Libya. “
Source: Universalmuseum Joanneum