Art: War Among the Masterpieces

"No one dared hope that the art of Europe would get off as easily as it has." With this preamble, Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum Director Francis H. Taylor, newly back from London, Paris and Normandy, last week reported on the state of Europe's art treasures. Highlights :

¶ Among European United Nations, England has probably suffered the most damage to historic landmarks. Some 4,000 English churches have been hurt by blitz and robot bombing, 2,800 totally destroyed. Hardest hit: Exeter Cathedral.

¶ Worst damage in France is in the Cherbourg-Calais-Rouen area. Rouen Cathedral is in partial ruin.

¶ Most Paris museum collections were...

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