In a statement last week, Italia Nostra pointed out that “Vitruvian Man” was one of 16 officially designated works that formed the “principal collection” of the Accademia Galleries in Venice, where the work has been part of the collection since 1822. The curators of the drawing at the Venice museum declined to be interviewed, but in an interview last year, the director of the Accademia Galleries at the time, Paola Marini, said that the curators had not been in favor of the loan.

“Vitruvian Man” is rarely lent and is not permanently displayed. On its website, the Accademia Galleries notes that the drawing must be protected from direct light and constantly monitored. Earlier this year, however, the drawing was on show in Venice as part of a Leonardo exhibition. Before that, it was last exhibited in 2013.

On Wednesday, an administrative court in Italy’s northern Veneto region wrote that while the drawing was part of the Accademia’s principal collection, other works on that list had been lent in the past. It also noted that technical reports by two of Italy’s most important restoration institutes said that the drawing could travel, as long as it would be shown for a limited number of days and under specific lighting conditions.

The drawing was one of several works by Leonardo lent to the Louvre as part of an exchange agreement signed on Sept. 24 by the culture ministers of Italy and France.

In its ruling, the Veneto tribunal noted that in return for the loan of “Vitruvian Man” and other works, the Louvre next year will send to Rome two paintings by Raphael, along with several drawings, for an exhibition commemorating the 500th anniversary of Raphael’s death.