Italy to Chicago

Three weeks ago Italy intended to ship the art treasures she had shown at the San Francisco Golden Gate International Exposition directly home (TIME, Oct. 30). Last week Italy changed her mind. Husky, enthusiastic Director Daniel Catton Rich of the Chicago Art Institute announced that the entire group would be shown there for two months beginning Nov. 17. Chicago's art lovers had worked on Chicago's Italian-Americans, who worked on grey-mustached Prince Ascanio Colonna, Italian Ambassador to the U. S., who worked on his Government.

For the first time, Chicago will see sculpture of Michelangelo in the original (a bas-relief Madonna and Child), Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Mantegna's St. George, Raphael's Madonna and the Chair. Despite official denials, it is fairly obvious that Italy's masterpieces will tour the U. S. until World War II blows over. In explaining why the show was given to Chicago rather than New York City, suave Prince Colonna observed that the latter was "too near the sea."

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