Italy Says Talks With Met Museum Have Soured

An Italian culture ministry lawyer says talks between his government and the Metropolitan Museum on disputed artifacts have soured. ” ‘I’m very worried,’ said Maurizio Fiorilli, a ministry lawyer involved in the talks, saying the Met’s lawyers are demanding excessive proof that the objects were stolen. The Met said it doesn’t see any snag in the talks and expects to send Italy a proposal for a settlement next week.”