QUICK TAKES - July 9, 2009

Major U.S. museums spend so much time and money pursuing works of art abroad that it’s often easy for them to forget that some foreign treasures can be found in their own backyards. On Wednesday, LACMA announced that it has acquired an 18th century Italian altar frontal -- “a decorated textile, usually large, hanging on the front of the altar,” according to the museum -- from St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in the San Gabriel Valley.

The church, located in San Marino just 21 miles away from the museum, has owned the altar frontal since the 1950s. At a width of more than 9 feet, the textile features intricate embroidering, colorful silk threading and encrustations of gold and silver, according to LACMA. Rev. George F. Woodward III of Saint Edmund’s oversaw the transfer of the piece to the museum.

-- David Ng