The European Court of Human Rights has found that Italy’s claims to a contested Greek statue are legitimate. But the museum says its continued possession is appropriate and lawful.

Lifesize Victorious Youth is at centre of a years-long dispute, with Italy claiming it was illegally bought by US trust

The bronze, which was pulled from the sea in 1964 by Italian fishermen and exported out of Italy illegally, was purchased by the Getty in 1977.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday ruled in favour of Italy's long-standing demand that the Getty Villa Museum in the United States return an ancient Greek statue which Rome claims was smuggled out of the country decades ago.

The ECHR rejected an appeal of its ruling that Italy has the right to reclaim a prized bronze statue, nicknamed the “Getty Bronze," by the Getty Museum in California.