First off, I've written several replies to this
thread and then thought better of it. Maybe this one will stick.
I think it's common knowledge that
Italy is a bureaucratic state. As such, if it is not in your job description to do something, you're not going to do it. It's how it has been for decades and you're not going to change it. As an example: I went in to pay a parking ticket on a Wednesday, only to be told I
had to come back on Thursday. They don't take payments for parking tickets on Wednesday. I went back Thursday to find the same woman at the same service window accept my payment. Wednesday is just not the day they will
help you. Why? Who knows, just accept it and move on.
Here's my take on your situation:
1. Don't let the "Nazionale" in the name fool you, the Chieti is a small museum. There's probably a hand full of people that
work there on a full time basis, including
security guards and ticket takers. I would guess none of them speak English well. I've been in some museums in
Italy where after paying to get in, I haven't seen a soul.
2. Perhaps you've forgotten that
Italy has been completely closed down because of Covid. Museums have been empty. Two years is not a long time considering what has happened here.
3. I've taken pictures in "No photo" museums before, including the
Vatican museum. All they've told me is "No pictures" and you move on (and keep your pics). From your posts here on
Forum and by your own admission that you've been "thrown out" suggests you're confrontational. I mean, who get's thrown out of a museum? As you were told in previous posts from several years ago, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
4. Don't take this one personally, but they may be asking "Who are you?" Why should they take a picture for some random guy who asks for it? I wouldn't presume any museum would fulfill a request for a picture from an email. Simply having an academia.edu account means nothing. Even if they did
google your name (which I highly doubt) they would have come across your views about museums and the staff. After reading your "paper" and this
thread, I wouldn't be inclined to send you pictures either.
If you want the pictures, get on a plane. Enjoy some great food and wine. Go to the museum. Be nice to the staff and get your pictures.