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Boston Museum Returns Benin Bronzes, Shifts to Nubian Art

4/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is set to return the majority of the Benin Bronzes, originally loaned by Robert Owen Lehman, amid ongoing ownership disputes. As the gallery prepares to close on April 28, it will shift focus to showcase Nubian art starting May 1, striving for ethical stewardship despite challenges in negotiations with the oba of Benin.

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Story summary

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is set to return the majority of the Benin Bronzes, originally loaned by Robert Owen Lehman, amid ongoing ownership disputes. As the gallery prepares to close on April 28, it will shift focus to showcase Nubian art starting May 1, striving for ethical stewardship despite challenges in negotiations with the oba of Benin.