In January 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the UK joined the European Union, joining Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The UK electorate were as divided then as they are now, although a largely north European trading bloc doesn’t seem too scary considering what it has now become.
Our accession was celebrated by an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It cannot have been very successful as it only ran from 4th January until 11th February. The full title for the show was
A Fanfare for Europe Exhibition: Treasures from the European Community. It took the form of art and antiquities from the nine member countries. Edward Heath wanted France to lend the Mona Lisa but as General de Gaulle had been so prone to do, France said “non’. They were baity because they had been refused the loan of the Rosetta Stone. Instead the French contribution was Georges de la Tour’s, Le Tricheur. It sent an unfortunate signal. Its English title is The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds.
James Lees-Milne seems not to have noticed the irony in this extract from Ancient as the Hills, Diaries 1973 – 1974.
“Thursday, 11th January
… To the V&A exhibition of one treasure lent by each of the nine Common Market countries, yesterday. Italy has lent Michelangelo’s Brutus. It looked even more marvellous than in the Bargello where I have often worshipped it. The lighting splendid, and the bust against red velvet background. I was moved nearly to tears of emotion. This I seldom am by a work of marble. All the other exhibits left me unmoved, the Rembrandt of Titus dressed as a monk, the de la Tour of The Card Sharper, seemed flat compared with this speaking, tremendously powerful expression of strength and force. What a bust! I have always thought it the greatest in the world.”
Also in the exhibition were the 17th century Four Studies of a Negro Head by Rubens (the Netherlands), a Late Bronze Age Pair of Wind Instruments (Lurs) (Denmark), The Ardagh Chalice (Ireland) and “Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath”, by George Stubbs (UK).
It is another irony that the UK’s choice showing the best of British as it were, was sold in 2011 for £22.4 million and is in a “private collection”, presumably in America. A reader may know more.
Fanfare for Europe was composed for a gala concert at the Albert Hall in 1973 to celebrate our EU membership. Fanfare for the Common Man seems an appropriate accompaniment to our departure.
Unlike the Italians (with their export ban on antiques and fine art) I’ve never had a problem with British art and antiques leaving these shores. Some of the best British painting went to the Americans who appreciated it long before us, and likewise, American universities had the foresight to buy up the literary archives of our best authors.
Trouble is, if you start playing that game, the Mona Lisa should be returned to Italy (I gather it once hung in Napoleon’s bathroom) and the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece.