After the French Revolution, Napoleon's victorious army and French representatives of the new French Republic confiscated famous works of art from Europe's finest art collections. These works were transported to the Louvre Museum in Paris for public viewing where they received a ceremonial welcome. Previously, art collections were privately owned by the elite. However, Napoleon's confiscation and display of cultural heritage encouraged the development of modern museums for public use as well as the idea that museums played an important role in developing the ideal of the modern nation. The famous arrivals at the Louvre included:
- The Apollo Belvedere
- The Medici Venus
- The Laocoon
- The Bronze Horses
- Paintings by Titian and Reubens
- The Rosetta Stone
Napoleon's invasion of Egypt allowed French savants traveling with the army to study, and confiscate, valuable ancient objects. After the British defeat, Eygptian cultural heritage confiscated by the French was sent to the British Museum. The Rosetta Stone is one of the most familiar items confiscated; it provided the code necessary to translate ancient hieroglyphics. Recently, Egypt requested the return of the stone to its rightful owner, the Eyptian nation. However, based on Britain's decision to keep the Greek Elgin marbles, it is unlikely the Rosetta Stone will be returned. Alexander the Great and Napoleon were neither the first nor the last to confiscate cultural property. Indeed, Hitler's confiscation of art was more thorough and eventually more destructive. Therefore, the question of ownership and cultural heritage continues to challenge museums, governments, and art historians today.
