Possessing these objects would demonstrate “their passion for knowledge, their respect for history, their discipline, rationality, and expertise in the fine arts.” The French justified this theft not only as part of the spoils of war but also as a way of demonstrating the French Republic’s dominant position in Europe’s new military, political, and cultural order, Saltzman writes.
A 1796 treaty with Pope Pius VI, for example, was worded: “The Pope shall deliver to the French Republic one hundred paintings, busts, vases or statues at the choice of the Commissioners who will be sent to Rome.” At one point he even boasted to the governing committee, “we have everything that is a work of art in Italy, save for a small number of objects in Turin and Naples.” The peace treaties Napoleon imposed on defeated foes usually required artworks to be forfeited. “The struggle goes on.”Ukrainians and anti-war Russians can also take heart in his message. Rushdie, recipient of an award for courage, the gala was an opportunity to stand up to the tyranny of his foes.
STELA OF TCHIA LOUVRE FREE
Anti-Russian sentiment has also gripped the West, leading to the cancellation of performances by Russian artists.The Ukrainian writer-soldiers said that they faced legal and ethical restrictions that prevented their participation, and that they weren’t “boycotting.” But the end result was the same: a curtailing of speech by PEN America, ironic for an organization founded to defend free expression.For Mr. Many Ukrainians now have a deep aversion to all things Russian – language, literature, performing arts. Russia’s invasion isn’t just territorial it’s also cultural. “Don’t these folks realize they are on the same side? Literally no one involved in this whole dispute supports Putin or his war, so what are they fighting about?”The sensitivities are understandable. Suzanne Nossel, the organization’s CEO, called it “a no-win situation.”To Americans who care deeply about Ukraine while also seeking to defend Russians who have nothing to do with the war or outright oppose it, the PEN America situation is exasperating.“The relentless zero-sum approach is just awful,” says an analyst with long experience in the post-Soviet world, speaking not for attribution. PEN canceled the panel that included Russians.Acclaimed Russian émigré journalist Masha Gessen quit as vice president of the PEN America board over the episode. The Russians oppose President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine and had left their country shortly after last year’s invasion, but the Ukrainians – both active-duty soldiers – stood firm.
Rushdie, who has faced death threats since the 1988 publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses,” deemed by Iran’s ayatollahs to be blasphemous toward Islam.A clash over free speech had earlier marred PEN America’s World Voices Festival, when two Ukrainian authors threatened not to appear after learning that two Russian writers were participating in a different panel. Salman Rushdie’s surprise appearance at last night’s PEN America Literary Gala – a celebration of free expression – ended a week of controversy on a high note.It was the author’s first public appearance since he was attacked and gravely wounded last August at a literary festival in western New York.“It’s nice to be back,” said Mr.
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