Csornay Boldizsár - Dobos Zsuzsa - Varga Ágota - Zakariás János szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 97. (Budapest, 2002)
NÉMETH, ISTVÁN: A Generous Gift or a Healthy Compromise? Some Contributions to the Background of the Donation of a Painting by El Greco
"Right Honourable Mr Minister, Your Excellency! At the instance of the department of arts, I am taking the liberty of respectfully setting forth the following facts concerning Mr Marcell Nemes 's export licence application. I the undersigned, as the officer nominated under the provisions of Article lof the decree no. 32.085/192Oof the Ministry of Religion and Education to act for the state in such cases, 16 in relation to Mr Nemes' application took a stand on working out a carefully weighed and advantageous compromise agreement instead of insisting upon a sheer rejection. I acted so principally because I am aware of the fact that although at the moment we are in a position to prohibit Mr Nemes from exporting the paintings, it is highly uncertain how long the present ban on exportation will be maintained. 17 For it is no more than a consequence of the present extraordinary circumstances, and such measures had only been taken by a few states in order to retaliate against Germany, which ruled in 1918 (or '19) that all works of national artistic or historical importance had to be inventoried and they must not leave the country - of course, that meant no more than an obligation to put such works up for sale to the state. It is highly likely, indeed certain, that once the normal order of international trade is re-established and the war-related isolation comes to an end, the bans on exportation will be lifted, as well, for such measures had never been employed before anywhere except in Italy where it is a matter of vital importance. Thus it is to be feared that once the ban on exports is lifted, which might as well occur within a few years, the works of art will leave the country anyway, and that time it will happen without a single piece of them accessioning to our collections. Wouldn't it be more reasonable then, to secure what can be secured right now to have it for certain belonging to the state for ever? For even in Italy where, due to the special circumstances, the ban will probably be retained permanently, it is a common practice that important collections or works of art are permitted to leave the country with the provision that an adequate donation would be made to the state. That was the case when the Mart elli family was let to export two of their three Donatellos provided that they would agree to give the third one away to the state; and that was the case with the renowned Crespi collection, as well, which was permitted to leave the country in 1914 on condition that a painting by Correggio will be presented to the state; etc. This decree, issued on April 25, 1920, ruled that in all cases that involve the exportation of works of art produced by non-living artists, the competent personnel at the Museum of Fine Arts are entitled to issue an expert certificate, on the basis of which the Minister of Finance is to decide upon granting the export licence. For the complete text of the decree, see: Budapesti Közlöny 95 ( 1920) 2. 17 The decree issued by the Prime Minister on August 9, 1919 established that "...it is prohibited to export ... any works of art produced by non-living artists from the country. The Minister of Religion and Education may however make exceptions from this rule under the terms he is to designate. .." For the complete text of this decree, see Magyarországi Rendeletek Tára 1919/1, 628-9.
