Life is short for Italian culture ministers (as you can see on this list of past officeholders). The Great Repatriator, Francesco Rutelli (above), is no exception: With the recent election of Silvio Berlusconi as Italy’s new (and former) prime minister, a new culture minister will be named, according to Louis Godart, advisor on culture to Italy’s president, responding to my e-mailed query. (I neglected to ask Godart if he also gives up his post.)
Rutelli has been culture minister only since May 2006, but has accomplished much (to the detriment of the collections of several American art museums) during his brief tenure. He was a media-savvy, sophisticated and tough negotiator who practiced what he preached, returning some objects long held by Italy to their countries of origin. Under his watch, Italy became a role model for other countries seeking to be players in the repatriation game. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.