The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston has agreed to return two 1857 works by the enslaved potter David Drake to his descendants. One vessel will remain on loan to the museum for at least two years, while the other, known as the "Poem Jar," has been purchased back by the museum for an undisclosed sum, now carrying a certificate of ethical ownership. The episode also covers the opening of the exhibition "Wifredo Lam: When I Don’t Sleep, I Dream" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, featuring the modernist painter of African and Chinese descent, and discusses Domenico Ghirlandaio's "Adoration of the Magi" (1488) in the context of a new book on Renaissance foundlings.
This agreement marks a significant step in the restitution of art created by enslaved individuals, recognizing the rights and lineage of descendants. It sets a precedent for museums to address historical injustices through ethical ownership and collaboration with heirs. The concurrent coverage of Lam's exhibition and Ghirlandaio's work highlights ongoing dialogues about race, diaspora, and the social role of art institutions.