Editing Elgin Marbles (section)

==Acquisition==
[[File:East pediment O Parthenon BM n2.jpg|thumb|Parthenon Selene Horse]]
[[File:The Parthenon sculptures, British Museum (14063376069) (2) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Metope from the Elgin Marbles depicting a [[Centaur]] and a [[Lapith]] fighting]]
In November 1798, the Earl of Elgin was appointed as "Ambassador Extraordinary and [[Plenipotentiary|Minister Plenipotentiary]] of His Britannic Majesty to the Sublime Porte of [[Selim III]], Sultan of Turkey" (Greece was then [[Ottoman Greece|part of the Ottoman Empire]]). Before his departure to take up the post, he had approached officials of the British government to inquire if they would be interested in employing artists to take casts and drawings of the sculptured portions of the Parthenon. According to Elgin, "the answer of the Government&nbsp;... was entirely negative."<ref name="Casey22"/>

Elgin decided to carry out the work himself, and employed artists to take casts and drawings under the supervision of the [[Parthenopaean Republic|Neapolitan]] court painter, [[Giovanni Battista Lusieri|Giovanni Lusieri]].<ref name="Casey22"/> Although his original intention was only to document the sculptures, in 1801 Elgin began to remove material from the Parthenon and its surrounding structures under the supervision of Lusieri. According to a Turkish local, marble sculptures that fell were being burned to obtain [[lime (material)|lime]] for building, and comparison with previously published drawings documented the state of rapid decay of the remains.<ref name="Casey22"/> Pieces were also removed from the Erechtheion, the Propylaia, and the Temple of Athena Nike, all inside the Acropolis.<ref name=":233"/>

They were brought from Greece to Malta, then a [[Malta Protectorate|British protectorate]], where they remained for a number of years until they were transported to Britain.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Busuttil|first1=Cynthia|title=Dock 1 made from ancient ruins?|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090726/local/dock-1-made-from-ancient-ruins.266812|access-date=15 March 2015|work=[[The Times (Malta)|The Times]]|date=26 July 2009}}</ref> The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost to Elgin of £74,240<ref name="Casey22"/><ref>''Encyclopædia Britannica'' Online{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/184554/Elgin-Marbles |title=Elgin Marbles |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref> (equivalent to £{{Inflation|UK-GDP|70000|1812|fmt=c|r=-4}} in {{Inflation-year|UK-GDP}} pounds). Elgin intended to use the marbles to enhance the art of Britain,<ref>Jenkins (2016). pp. 96, 102</ref> and his ultimate goal had been for them to be purchased by the Government.<ref name=":14" />

To build the case for the public expenditure, Elgin bought a house in London and set up the sculptures there as a private museum, making them accessible to artists, and eventually, the public.<ref>St.Clair (1998), pp. 162–172</ref> Elgin resumed negotiations for the sale of the collection to the British Museum in 1811, but talks failed when the government offered only £30,000; less than half of his expenses relating to them.<ref>St Clair (1967). pp. 184–186</ref> The following years marked an increased interest in classical Greece, and Elgin procured testimonials from [[Ennio Quirino Visconti]], director of the Louvre, and [[Antonio Canova]] of the Vatican Museum, who affirmed the high artistic value of the marbles.<ref>St Clair (1967). pp. 220–228</ref> In 1816, a House of Commons Select Committee, established at Lord Elgin's request, found that they were of high artistic value and recommended that the government purchase them for £35,000 to further the cultivation of the fine arts in Britain.<ref name=":4">St Clair (1967). pp. 250–260</ref><ref>Jenkins (2016). p. 107</ref> In June 1816, after further debate, parliament approved the purchase of the marbles by a vote of 82–30. The marbles were transferred to the British Museum on 8 August.<ref name=":10">Jenkins (2016). pp. 109–110</ref>