Ancient Art Traffickers Rob History for Millions ; Representatives from Several Latin American Countries Met Last Week Totackle the Growing Problem

Catherine Elton,, The Christian Science Monitor

When the Rev. Jorge Chacn entered his chapel on the outskirts of Cuzco to say mass last week, he could scarcely believe his eyes. Just the night before he had left the adobe chapel alongside the San Sebastian Church in perfect order. But when he arrived the next morning, all that was left of a 17th-century, seven-painting series on the resurrection of Lazarus were a few fringes of canvas clinging to empty wooden frames.

Fr. Chacn couldn't say mass that day. "I just wasn't myself, and I was crying and very upset," he recalls. "This is a great loss. These paintings have great historical and cultural value for our people."

Ironically this robbery took place just …

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Publication information: Article title: Ancient Art Traffickers Rob History for Millions ; Representatives from Several Latin American Countries Met Last Week Totackle the Growing Problem. Contributors: Catherine Elton, - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: October 7, 1999. Page number: 7. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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