has returned two religious paintings belonging to Peru's cultural heritage to its
during a ceremony held at the Peruvian diplomatic mission's venue in the North American metropolis.
Both artworks were made on canvas using the oil painting technique in the baroque style. According to estimates, these two paintings were crafted in the central Peruvian highlands in the 1800s.
The
Homeland Security Department seized both Peruvian paintings from a private art gallery in October 2023 once an expert had authenticated their provenance.
Homeland Security Investigations Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Paul Salamon, emphasized that his country is proud to collaborate with the Peruvian Government to recover valuable pieces of its rich cultural heritage from illegal trafficking.
Salamon underscored that today's repatriation is possible thanks to our Bilateral Agreement on Cultural Property, which
exemplifies the close collaboration between the HSI and law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally, to return cultural heritage to the Peruvian people.
In turn,
Consul General Landaveri thanked
the HSI for its collaboration in recovering part of Peru's cultural heritage, which has incalculable value for Peruvians.
The restitution of these pieces is the outcome of the close collaboration between the United States and Peru —within the framework of the Agreement for the Protection of Cultural Heritage renewed in 2022. It has been in force for more than 26 years.
To date, and thanks to this treaty, more than 2,000 pieces belonging to Peru's cultural heritage have been returned to the South American country.
The return carried out in New York City is part of continuous efforts to recover and return cultural property to Peru.
"The world's ancient and historic monuments, as well as archaeological objects and sites, serve to enrich and inform today's societies. They also help us connect with our cultural origins," the
U.S. Embassy said in a release.
"The United States Government is committed to combating the theft and trafficking of cultural heritage to ensure its preservation for future generations," it concluded.