State vs. Church: Uffizi Director Provokes Controversy Over Who Owns Sacred Art?

Lucy Gordan | La Voca di New York | 4th June 2020

The Uffizi Gallery director has proposed returning some religious artworks to the churches they came from. Unsurprisingly, not everyone agrees. However, the Uffizi’s collection is larger than can be displayed. Current visitor restrictions reduce further how much art can be seen. Behind the proposal is the idea of the diffused museum, where artworks are shown in their original context. Says one church official “a very positive provocation”.