A STATUE BY FRENCH SCULPTOR AUGUSTE RODIN WAS STOLEN FROM THE ISRAEL MUSEUM DURING THE FACILITY'S RECENTLY COMPLETED RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM SAID WEDNESDAY. THE NUDE BRONZE OF FRENCH NOVELIST HONORE DE BALZAC WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF STUDIES RODIN CAST FOR A MONUMENT TO BALZAC ON DISPLAY IN PARIS. IT WAS DONATED TO THE MUSEUM IN 1966 BY THE JEWISH-AMERICAN IMPRESARIO AND LYRICIST BILLY ROSE. THE MUSEUM SAID THE THEFT WAS DISCOVERED THREE MONTHS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY REPORTED IT TO POLICE. POLICE SAY AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CASE. THE STATUE IS 50 INCHES BY 24 INCHES WIDE AND WEIGHS ABOUT 140 POUNDS. IT WAS MOLDED IN 1892 AND CAST POSTHUMOUSLY BETWEEN 1918 AND 1926. RODIN IS RENOWNED FOR THE ICONIC MASTERPIECES SUCH AS 'THE THINKER' AND 'THE KISS'. THE MUSEUM SAID IT COULD NOT PROVIDE A VALUE FOR THE BALZAC PIECE. BUT BASED ON RODIN SCULPTURES OF SIMILAR DIMENSIONS PUT THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE STOLEN ARTWORK AT APPROXIMATELY $350,000, ACCORDING TO THE ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN RECOVERING STOLEN ART. CHRISTOPHER MARINELLO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ART LOSS REGISTER, SAID IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SELL SUCH AN HIGH-PROFILE PIECE IN THE OPEN MARKET WITHOUT DETECTION. HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY THAT THE THIEVES WOULD MOVE THE PIECE UNDERGROUND, SHOP IT ON THE BLACK MARKET OR RANSOM IT TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

RODIN SCULPTURE STOLEN FROM ISRAEL MUSEUM

A STATUE BY FRENCH SCULPTOR AUGUSTE RODIN WAS STOLEN FROM THE ISRAEL MUSEUM DURING THE FACILITY'S RECENTLY COMPLETED RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM SAID WEDNESDAY. THE NUDE BRONZE OF FRENCH NOVELIST HONORE DE BALZAC WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF STUDIES RODIN CAST FOR A MONUMENT TO BALZAC ON DISPLAY IN PARIS. IT WAS DONATED TO THE MUSEUM IN 1966 BY THE JEWISH-AMERICAN IMPRESARIO AND LYRICIST BILLY ROSE. THE MUSEUM SAID THE THEFT WAS DISCOVERED THREE MONTHS AGO AND IMMEDIATELY REPORTED IT TO POLICE. POLICE SAY AN INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CASE. THE STATUE IS 50 INCHES BY 24 INCHES WIDE AND WEIGHS ABOUT 140 POUNDS. IT WAS MOLDED IN 1892 AND CAST POSTHUMOUSLY BETWEEN 1918 AND 1926. RODIN IS RENOWNED FOR THE ICONIC MASTERPIECES SUCH AS 'THE THINKER' AND 'THE KISS'. THE MUSEUM SAID IT COULD NOT PROVIDE A VALUE FOR THE BALZAC PIECE. BUT BASED ON RODIN SCULPTURES OF SIMILAR DIMENSIONS PUT THE ESTIMATED VALUE OF THE STOLEN ARTWORK AT APPROXIMATELY $350,000, ACCORDING TO THE ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN RECOVERING STOLEN ART. CHRISTOPHER MARINELLO, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE ART LOSS REGISTER, SAID IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SELL SUCH AN HIGH-PROFILE PIECE IN THE OPEN MARKET WITHOUT DETECTION. HE SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY THAT THE THIEVES WOULD MOVE THE PIECE UNDERGROUND, SHOP IT ON THE BLACK MARKET OR RANSOM IT TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

RODIN SCULPTURE STOLEN FROM ISRAEL MUSEUM

THE ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT TO TRY TO KEEP A 3,200 YEAR OLD MUMMY MASK THAT EGYPT WANTS RETURNED, CLAIMING IT WAS STOLEN NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO. THE MUSEUM CLAIMS THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SEIZE THE 20 INCH LONG FUNERAL MASK OF KA-NEFER-NEFER AND RETURN IT TO EGYPT. BUT THE MUSEUM SAYS IT HAS LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE MASK IT PURCHASED FROM A NEW YORK ART DEALER FOR $499,000 IN 1998. EGYPT OFFICIALS HAVE CLAIMED THE MASK WAS STOLEN IN THE EARLY 1990s FROM A STORAGE ROOM NEAR A PYRAMID. THE SUIT, FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN ST LOUIS ON TUESDAY, CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROOF THE MASK WAS EVER STOLEN. IT ALSO CLAIMS THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAS EXPIRED FOR ANY SEIZURE.

ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM TRIES TO PROTECT EGYPTIAN MASK FROM SEIZURE

THE ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT TO TRY TO KEEP A 3,200 YEAR OLD MUMMY MASK THAT EGYPT WANTS RETURNED, CLAIMING IT WAS STOLEN NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO. THE MUSEUM CLAIMS THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO SEIZE THE 20 INCH LONG FUNERAL MASK OF KA-NEFER-NEFER AND RETURN IT TO EGYPT. BUT THE MUSEUM SAYS IT HAS LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE MASK IT PURCHASED FROM A NEW YORK ART DEALER FOR $499,000 IN 1998. EGYPT OFFICIALS HAVE CLAIMED THE MASK WAS STOLEN IN THE EARLY 1990s FROM A STORAGE ROOM NEAR A PYRAMID. THE SUIT, FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN ST LOUIS ON TUESDAY, CLAIMS THERE IS NO PROOF THE MASK WAS EVER STOLEN. IT ALSO CLAIMS THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAS EXPIRED FOR ANY SEIZURE.

ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM TRIES TO PROTECT EGYPTIAN MASK FROM SEIZURE

POLICE HAVE RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION 34 OF THE 35 WORKS OF ART THAT WERE STOLEN FROM A TRUCK THREE WEEKS AGO IN GETAFE (MADRID) AND WHICH ARE WORTH MORE THAN $4 MILLION. THE SAME SOURCES ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, FOR NOW, THEY FAILED TO APPREHEND THE PERPETRATORS OF THE ROBBERY. THE VEHICLE, WHOSE KEYS WERE KEPT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, WAS ABANDONED IN ALCORCON TO CONFUSE OFFICIALS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE WORKS OF ART WERE STOLEN ON REQUEST AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD A BUYER, WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME THE INVESTIGATION TOOK A TURN AFTER IT EMERGED THAT A SCULPTURE BY CHILLIDA HAD ENDED UP IN A JUNKYARD. THE STARTLING REVELATION SHOWS THAT THE THIEVES (THREE MASKED MEN WHO DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO SWITCH OFF THE ALARMS) WERE MET WITH A COMMODITY THEY DID NOT EXPECT AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO WITH IT. ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, THE THIEVES TRANSFERRED THE WORKS TO A VAN AFTER LEAVING THE TRUCK. THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS INITIALLY FOUND A WORK BY CHILLIDA, THE THIEVES HAD SOLD IT AT A JUNKYARD IN MADRID FOR $50. THE LEAD ALLOWED THEM TO FIND 33 OF THE STOLEN ARTWORKS IN A VAN. ALL THE STOLEN MATERIAL IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND MOST OF WERE PROTECTED IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING. ONLY ONE OF THE BOXES WAS RECOVERED BROKEN. THE OWNER OF THE JUAN GRIS GALLERY, THE FINAL DESTINATION OF THE STOLEN ART, ACKNOWLEDGED THE 'UNEXPECTED' NEWS. DAVID FERNANDEZ BRASO CONFESSED THAT 'HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE' TO RECOVER THE WORKS AND THAT IT WAS 'A ROBBERY DONE BY PROFESSIONALS'. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

THIEVES TRY TO SELL STOLEN ARTWORK AT SCRAPYARD

POLICE HAVE RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION 34 OF THE 35 WORKS OF ART THAT WERE STOLEN FROM A TRUCK THREE WEEKS AGO IN GETAFE (MADRID) AND WHICH ARE WORTH MORE THAN $4 MILLION. THE SAME SOURCES ACKNOWLEDGED THAT, FOR NOW, THEY FAILED TO APPREHEND THE PERPETRATORS OF THE ROBBERY. THE VEHICLE, WHOSE KEYS WERE KEPT IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, WAS ABANDONED IN ALCORCON TO CONFUSE OFFICIALS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE WORKS OF ART WERE STOLEN ON REQUEST AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD A BUYER, WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME THE INVESTIGATION TOOK A TURN AFTER IT EMERGED THAT A SCULPTURE BY CHILLIDA HAD ENDED UP IN A JUNKYARD. THE STARTLING REVELATION SHOWS THAT THE THIEVES (THREE MASKED MEN WHO DID NOT EVEN BOTHER TO SWITCH OFF THE ALARMS) WERE MET WITH A COMMODITY THEY DID NOT EXPECT AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO WITH IT. ACCORDING TO THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, THE THIEVES TRANSFERRED THE WORKS TO A VAN AFTER LEAVING THE TRUCK. THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS INITIALLY FOUND A WORK BY CHILLIDA, THE THIEVES HAD SOLD IT AT A JUNKYARD IN MADRID FOR $50. THE LEAD ALLOWED THEM TO FIND 33 OF THE STOLEN ARTWORKS IN A VAN. ALL THE STOLEN MATERIAL IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND MOST OF WERE PROTECTED IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING. ONLY ONE OF THE BOXES WAS RECOVERED BROKEN. THE OWNER OF THE JUAN GRIS GALLERY, THE FINAL DESTINATION OF THE STOLEN ART, ACKNOWLEDGED THE 'UNEXPECTED' NEWS. DAVID FERNANDEZ BRASO CONFESSED THAT 'HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE' TO RECOVER THE WORKS AND THAT IT WAS 'A ROBBERY DONE BY PROFESSIONALS'. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN THAT IT WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

THIEVES TRY TO SELL STOLEN ARTWORK AT SCRAPYARD

FOLLOWING A US IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT'S (ICE) HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS (HSI) INVESTIGATION, THE UNITED STATES HAS ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, OHIO, THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RETURN TO A ROYAL FAMILY IN GERMANY OF THE 'NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND', A FAMED SWAN SERVICE COLLECTION'S CENTERPIECE. DURING WORLD WAR II, WHILE ON LOAN TO THE DRESDEN MUSEUM FROM THE FAMILY OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF SAXONY, THE 'NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND' WAS STOLEN FROM A CASTLE WHERE IT WAS HIDDEN. THE PORCELAIN PIECE, VALUED AT MORE THAN $1 MILLION, WAS RECENTLY LOCATED AT THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, WHICH HAS AGREED TO RETURN IT TO THE HEIRS OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER. IN 1737, COUNT HEINRICH VON BRUEHL, THE PRIME MINSTER OF SAXONY AND THE FOUNDING PATRON OF THE MEISSEN PORCELAIN FACTORY, ORDERED THE FACTORY'S CHIEF MODELER TO CREATE A ROYAL DINNER SERVICE. THE RESULT, FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, WAS THE SWAN SERVICE, A SERVICE FOR 100 COMPRISING 2,200 PIECES. THE NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND, PART OF THE CENTERPIECE ARRANGEMENT, IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MASTERPIECES OF THE COLLECTION. IN AUGUST 1920, THE DRESDEN MUSEUM RECEIVED 25 PIECES FROM THE SWAN SERVICE, INCLUDING THE NEREID STAND, ON PERMANENT LOAN FROM THE VON BRUEHL FAMILY. THESE PIECES AND 12 OTHERS FROM THE SWAN SERVICE DONATED TO THE MUSEUM AFTER 1920, WERE HIDDEN AT THE REICHSTAEDT CASTLE IN GERMANY DURING WORLD WAR II. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR, THE BOXES WERE FOUND OPENED WITH THE NEREID STAND AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES MISSING. IN 1955, THE STAND WAS PURCHASED FROM A EUROPEAN ART DEALER, SUBSEQUENTLY IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES, AND SOLD TO THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART. RECENTLY, THE STAND WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE STOLEN NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND AFTER BEING EXAMINED BY STAFF FROM THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, THE DRESDEN MUSEUM, THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART AND SPECIAL AGENTS FROM ICE AND HSI.

TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART RETURNS NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND TO HEIRS

FOLLOWING A US IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT'S (ICE) HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS (HSI) INVESTIGATION, THE UNITED STATES HAS ENTERED INTO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, OHIO, THAT PROVIDES FOR THE RETURN TO A ROYAL FAMILY IN GERMANY OF THE 'NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND', A FAMED SWAN SERVICE COLLECTION'S CENTERPIECE. DURING WORLD WAR II, WHILE ON LOAN TO THE DRESDEN MUSEUM FROM THE FAMILY OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF SAXONY, THE 'NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND' WAS STOLEN FROM A CASTLE WHERE IT WAS HIDDEN. THE PORCELAIN PIECE, VALUED AT MORE THAN $1 MILLION, WAS RECENTLY LOCATED AT THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, WHICH HAS AGREED TO RETURN IT TO THE HEIRS OF THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER. IN 1737, COUNT HEINRICH VON BRUEHL, THE PRIME MINSTER OF SAXONY AND THE FOUNDING PATRON OF THE MEISSEN PORCELAIN FACTORY, ORDERED THE FACTORY'S CHIEF MODELER TO CREATE A ROYAL DINNER SERVICE. THE RESULT, FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, WAS THE SWAN SERVICE, A SERVICE FOR 100 COMPRISING 2,200 PIECES. THE NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND, PART OF THE CENTERPIECE ARRANGEMENT, IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MASTERPIECES OF THE COLLECTION. IN AUGUST 1920, THE DRESDEN MUSEUM RECEIVED 25 PIECES FROM THE SWAN SERVICE, INCLUDING THE NEREID STAND, ON PERMANENT LOAN FROM THE VON BRUEHL FAMILY. THESE PIECES AND 12 OTHERS FROM THE SWAN SERVICE DONATED TO THE MUSEUM AFTER 1920, WERE HIDDEN AT THE REICHSTAEDT CASTLE IN GERMANY DURING WORLD WAR II. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR, THE BOXES WERE FOUND OPENED WITH THE NEREID STAND AND SEVERAL OTHER PIECES MISSING. IN 1955, THE STAND WAS PURCHASED FROM A EUROPEAN ART DEALER, SUBSEQUENTLY IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES, AND SOLD TO THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART. RECENTLY, THE STAND WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE STOLEN NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND AFTER BEING EXAMINED BY STAFF FROM THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART, THE DRESDEN MUSEUM, THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART AND SPECIAL AGENTS FROM ICE AND HSI.

TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART RETURNS NEREID SWEETMEAT STAND TO HEIRS

AUTHORITIES ARE RAMPING UP THEIR EFFORT TO SOLVE A MANHATTAN MYSTERY: WHO DRILLED A HOLE INTO THE HOME OF A BEEF FORTUNE HEIR AND STOLE A COLLECTION OF ICONIC ARTWORKS BY ROY LICHTENSTEIN AND ANDY WARHOL. THE THIEVES ALSO MADE OFF WITH SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FOOTAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THEM IN THE ACT. THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASED IMAGES OF THE ART, HOPING SOMEONE MIGHT HELP SOLVE LAST MONTH'S CRIME IN THE TRENDY MEATPACKING DISTRICT BY RECOGNIZING WORKS LIKE THE WELL-KNOWN LICHTENSTEIN PRINT CALLED 'THINKING NUDE'. AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THE FIVE-STORY APARTMENT WAS BURGLARIZED SOMETIME DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK, WHEN THE OWNER AND ART COLLECTOR ROBERT ROMANOFF WAS AWAY. ALSO TAKEN FROM THE BUILDING WAS A LICHTENSTEIN PRINT CALLED 'MOONSCAPE', THE CARL FUDGE OIL PAINTING 'LIVE CAT', THE WARHOL PRINTS 'THE TRUCK' AND 'SUPERMAN', AND A SET OF EIGHT SIGNED WARHOL PRINTS FROM 1968 CALLED 'CAMOUFLAGE'. THEY'RE AMONG THE ARTIST'S LAST WORKS BEFORE HIS DEATH THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THE ARTWORKS, PLUS A STOLEN CARTIER AND ROLEX WATCHES AND OTHER JEWELRY, ARE WORTH OVER $750,000. THE ROMANOFF HOME IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH OLD WAREHOUSES AND MEATPACKING COMPANIES NOW TURNED INTO RETAIL AND LIVING SPACE, RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUES. POLICE SAY THE THIEF DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL OF A HALLWAY SOMETIME BETWEEN 24-28.NOVEMBER. LICHTENSTEIN, WHO DIED IN 1997, CREATED 'THINKING NUDE' IN 1994, ONE OF 40 ILLUSTRATED EDITION WORKS THAT ARE PART OF HIS 'NUDES' SERIES BASED ON COMIC-BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS. A SIMILAR PRINT RECENTLY SOLD FOR $85,000 AT CHRISTIE'S, ACCORDING TO THE AUCTION HOUSE'S WEBSITE. WARHOL'S 'SUPERMAN' PRINT IS PART OF HIS 1980s 'MYTHS' SERIES FEATURING FICTIONAL CHARACTERS WITH MASS-CULTURAL APPEAL, INCLUDING MICKEY MOUSE AND UNCLE SAM.

POLICE SEARCH FOR STOLEN NEW YORK ART COLLECTION

AUTHORITIES ARE RAMPING UP THEIR EFFORT TO SOLVE A MANHATTAN MYSTERY: WHO DRILLED A HOLE INTO THE HOME OF A BEEF FORTUNE HEIR AND STOLE A COLLECTION OF ICONIC ARTWORKS BY ROY LICHTENSTEIN AND ANDY WARHOL. THE THIEVES ALSO MADE OFF WITH SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FOOTAGE THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THEM IN THE ACT. THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASED IMAGES OF THE ART, HOPING SOMEONE MIGHT HELP SOLVE LAST MONTH'S CRIME IN THE TRENDY MEATPACKING DISTRICT BY RECOGNIZING WORKS LIKE THE WELL-KNOWN LICHTENSTEIN PRINT CALLED 'THINKING NUDE'. AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THE FIVE-STORY APARTMENT WAS BURGLARIZED SOMETIME DURING THANKSGIVING WEEK, WHEN THE OWNER AND ART COLLECTOR ROBERT ROMANOFF WAS AWAY. ALSO TAKEN FROM THE BUILDING WAS A LICHTENSTEIN PRINT CALLED 'MOONSCAPE', THE CARL FUDGE OIL PAINTING 'LIVE CAT', THE WARHOL PRINTS 'THE TRUCK' AND 'SUPERMAN', AND A SET OF EIGHT SIGNED WARHOL PRINTS FROM 1968 CALLED 'CAMOUFLAGE'. THEY'RE AMONG THE ARTIST'S LAST WORKS BEFORE HIS DEATH THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THE ARTWORKS, PLUS A STOLEN CARTIER AND ROLEX WATCHES AND OTHER JEWELRY, ARE WORTH OVER $750,000. THE ROMANOFF HOME IS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH OLD WAREHOUSES AND MEATPACKING COMPANIES NOW TURNED INTO RETAIL AND LIVING SPACE, RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUES. POLICE SAY THE THIEF DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL OF A HALLWAY SOMETIME BETWEEN 24-28.NOVEMBER. LICHTENSTEIN, WHO DIED IN 1997, CREATED 'THINKING NUDE' IN 1994, ONE OF 40 ILLUSTRATED EDITION WORKS THAT ARE PART OF HIS 'NUDES' SERIES BASED ON COMIC-BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS. A SIMILAR PRINT RECENTLY SOLD FOR $85,000 AT CHRISTIE'S, ACCORDING TO THE AUCTION HOUSE'S WEBSITE. WARHOL'S 'SUPERMAN' PRINT IS PART OF HIS 1980s 'MYTHS' SERIES FEATURING FICTIONAL CHARACTERS WITH MASS-CULTURAL APPEAL, INCLUDING MICKEY MOUSE AND UNCLE SAM.

POLICE SEARCH FOR STOLEN NEW YORK ART COLLECTION

SIXTEEN PAINTINGS THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN AT VARIOUS TIMES FROM PRIVATE HOMES AND CHURCHES WILL BE BACK BY CHRISTMAS, TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. THE WORKS OF ART SEIZED BY POLICE IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE HOUSE OF A ROMAN DESIGNER AND 'AT LARGE WERE REPORTED STOLEN TO THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF ROME. IN HIS HOUSE WERE FOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHED 180 PAINTINGS FROM VARIOUS PERIODS, PURCHASED IN MARKETS AND FAIRS ACROSS ITALY, DURING A PERIOD OF OVER 30 YEARS. THE INVESTIGATION, SAID LT COL RAFFAELE MANCINO, STARTED BY THE REQUEST OF A COLLECTOR FROM ROME, WHO WANTED TO BUY A PAINTING BY THE SIENESE SCHOOL OF THE 15th CENTURY, AND IT WAS 'DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY THE LEGAL ORIGIN'. HAVING ESTABLISHED THAT THE PAINTING OF THE 'SUICIDE OF CLEOPATRA' WAS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE WITH THE COMMAND OF UNLAWFULLY REMOVED CULTURAL PROPERTY, STARTED OFF THE INVESTIGATION. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PAINTING WAS STOLEN ON 28.MAY.1972 FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI IN PIENZA, IN THE PROVINCE OF SIENA. THE FINDING ALLOWED THE RECOVERY OF ANOTHER 15 PAINTINGS, PARTIAL PROCEEDS OF TEN ROBBERIES COMMITTED IN PRIVATE HOMES OF ROME, CHURCHES AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN CENTRAL ITALY, FOR THE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION EUROS.

STOLEN ARTWORKS TO BE RETURNED

SIXTEEN PAINTINGS THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN AT VARIOUS TIMES FROM PRIVATE HOMES AND CHURCHES WILL BE BACK BY CHRISTMAS, TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. THE WORKS OF ART SEIZED BY POLICE IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE HAVE BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE HOUSE OF A ROMAN DESIGNER AND 'AT LARGE WERE REPORTED STOLEN TO THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF ROME. IN HIS HOUSE WERE FOUND AND PHOTOGRAPHED 180 PAINTINGS FROM VARIOUS PERIODS, PURCHASED IN MARKETS AND FAIRS ACROSS ITALY, DURING A PERIOD OF OVER 30 YEARS. THE INVESTIGATION, SAID LT COL RAFFAELE MANCINO, STARTED BY THE REQUEST OF A COLLECTOR FROM ROME, WHO WANTED TO BUY A PAINTING BY THE SIENESE SCHOOL OF THE 15th CENTURY, AND IT WAS 'DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY THE LEGAL ORIGIN'. HAVING ESTABLISHED THAT THE PAINTING OF THE 'SUICIDE OF CLEOPATRA' WAS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE WITH THE COMMAND OF UNLAWFULLY REMOVED CULTURAL PROPERTY, STARTED OFF THE INVESTIGATION. AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PAINTING WAS STOLEN ON 28.MAY.1972 FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI IN PIENZA, IN THE PROVINCE OF SIENA. THE FINDING ALLOWED THE RECOVERY OF ANOTHER 15 PAINTINGS, PARTIAL PROCEEDS OF TEN ROBBERIES COMMITTED IN PRIVATE HOMES OF ROME, CHURCHES AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN CENTRAL ITALY, FOR THE VALUE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION EUROS.

STOLEN ARTWORKS TO BE RETURNED

A PAINTING OF THE FLORENCE SKYLINE THAT HUNG IN ADOLF HITLER'S BERLIN APARTMENT THROUGHOUT WORLD WAR II AND WAS MISSING FOR DECADES WENT ON DISPLAY RECENTLY IN AN EXHIBITION OF WORKS RETURNED TO THE COLLECTION OF A MAJOR GERMAN MUSEUM. THE EXHIBITION CENTERS ON 18 WORKS RETURNED TO THE ALTE NATIONALGALERIE OVER THE PAST DECADE, MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY SINCE THEY WERE REMOVED FROM ITS PREMISES. IT ALSO USES OFFICIAL AND LOAN LISTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS TO SHOW HOW THE PIECES WERE TAKEN DOWN FROM THE MUSEUM WALLS TO WIND UP ON ODYSSEYS THROUGH FLAK TOWERS, SALT MINES AND WATER-SOAKED CELLARS. MANY OF THE WORKS FOUND THEIR WAY INTO PRIVATE HANDS, BUT MUSEUM OFFICIALS SAY A RECENT INTERNATIONAL PUSH FOR RESTITUTION HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKS RETURNING TO THE MUSEUM IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. AT THE END OF THE WORLD WAR II IN 1945, SOME 800 WORKS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ALTE NATIONALGALERIE WERE MISSING. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THEM WERE RECOVERED BY THE END OF THE 1950s. SINCE 1990, MORE THAN TWO DOZEN OTHERS HAVE BEEN RETURNED, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE EXHIBITION. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING GERMANY'S, AND BERLIN'S, REUNIFICATION AND USE OF THE INTERNET TO CIRCULATE DATABASES, HOWEVER, HAVE MADE IT EASIER TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MISSING ARTWORKS, LEADING TO A JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF RETURNS SINCE 2000, BERLIN MUSEUM DIRECTOR MICHAEL EISSENHAUER SAID. 'A VIEW OF FLORENCE', BY 19th CENTURY PAINTER WILHELM AHLBORNS, WAS ONE OF 68 WORKS LOANED BY THE GALLERY TO THE NAZI REGIME AND HUNG IN HITLER'S PRIVATE QUARTERS AT HIS CHANCELLERY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT TURNED UP IN A BERLIN ART GALLERY, WHICH IN TURN ALERTED THE MUSEUM. ONCE THE GALLERY PROVES OWNERSHIP, USING PRE-WAR DOCUMENTATION OR MARKINGS ON THE PAINTINGS THEMSELVES, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A 'FINDER'S FEE' FOR THE CURRENT OWNERS, WORTH ROUGHLY 10% OF THE ARTWORK'S MARKET VALUE. ANOTHER WORK IN THE EXHIBIT, WHICH OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FRIDAY AND RUNS THROUGH 6.MARCH.2011, WAS REACQUIRED BY THE MUSEUM IN OCTOBER. IN 1942, 'DOG WITH GRAY HORSE' BY ENGLISH PAINTER WILLIAM COLE, HAD BEEN HUNG BY NAZI OFFICIALS IN A BERLIN VILLA THAT WAS TO HOUSE THE THEN EXILED IRAQI PRIME MINISTER. AT THE WAR'S END, HE MOVED SOUTH TO A VILLAGE OUTSIDE DRESDEN AND THE PAINTING WAS GIVEN TO THE HOUSEKEEPER AS PAYMENT. A DESCENDANT OF THE HOUSEKEEPER IDENTIFIED IT THROUGH A DATABASE OF LOST ARTWORK AND CONTACTED THE MUSEUM, REFLECTING WHAT EISSENHAUER CALLED A GENERATION CHANGE THAT IS BENEFITING THE MUSEUM. 'MANY PAINTINGS ARE CHANGING HANDS AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS STARTING TO ASK WHERE THEY CAME FROM', EISSENHAUR SAID. 'WE ARE HOPING THAT THE CURVE WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP.'

BERLIN'S ALTE NATIONALGALERIE PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION OF RETURNED WORKS

A PAINTING OF THE FLORENCE SKYLINE THAT HUNG IN ADOLF HITLER'S BERLIN APARTMENT THROUGHOUT WORLD WAR II AND WAS MISSING FOR DECADES WENT ON DISPLAY RECENTLY IN AN EXHIBITION OF WORKS RETURNED TO THE COLLECTION OF A MAJOR GERMAN MUSEUM. THE EXHIBITION CENTERS ON 18 WORKS RETURNED TO THE ALTE NATIONALGALERIE OVER THE PAST DECADE, MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY SINCE THEY WERE REMOVED FROM ITS PREMISES. IT ALSO USES OFFICIAL AND LOAN LISTS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS TO SHOW HOW THE PIECES WERE TAKEN DOWN FROM THE MUSEUM WALLS TO WIND UP ON ODYSSEYS THROUGH FLAK TOWERS, SALT MINES AND WATER-SOAKED CELLARS. MANY OF THE WORKS FOUND THEIR WAY INTO PRIVATE HANDS, BUT MUSEUM OFFICIALS SAY A RECENT INTERNATIONAL PUSH FOR RESTITUTION HAS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WORKS RETURNING TO THE MUSEUM IN THE PAST 10 YEARS. AT THE END OF THE WORLD WAR II IN 1945, SOME 800 WORKS THAT HAD BEEN IN THE COLLECTION OF THE ALTE NATIONALGALERIE WERE MISSING. ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THEM WERE RECOVERED BY THE END OF THE 1950s. SINCE 1990, MORE THAN TWO DOZEN OTHERS HAVE BEEN RETURNED, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE EXHIBITION. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING GERMANY'S, AND BERLIN'S, REUNIFICATION AND USE OF THE INTERNET TO CIRCULATE DATABASES, HOWEVER, HAVE MADE IT EASIER TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MISSING ARTWORKS, LEADING TO A JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF RETURNS SINCE 2000, BERLIN MUSEUM DIRECTOR MICHAEL EISSENHAUER SAID. 'A VIEW OF FLORENCE', BY 19th CENTURY PAINTER WILHELM AHLBORNS, WAS ONE OF 68 WORKS LOANED BY THE GALLERY TO THE NAZI REGIME AND HUNG IN HITLER'S PRIVATE QUARTERS AT HIS CHANCELLERY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT TURNED UP IN A BERLIN ART GALLERY, WHICH IN TURN ALERTED THE MUSEUM. ONCE THE GALLERY PROVES OWNERSHIP, USING PRE-WAR DOCUMENTATION OR MARKINGS ON THE PAINTINGS THEMSELVES, IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A 'FINDER'S FEE' FOR THE CURRENT OWNERS, WORTH ROUGHLY 10% OF THE ARTWORK'S MARKET VALUE. ANOTHER WORK IN THE EXHIBIT, WHICH OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FRIDAY AND RUNS THROUGH 6.MARCH.2011, WAS REACQUIRED BY THE MUSEUM IN OCTOBER. IN 1942, 'DOG WITH GRAY HORSE' BY ENGLISH PAINTER WILLIAM COLE, HAD BEEN HUNG BY NAZI OFFICIALS IN A BERLIN VILLA THAT WAS TO HOUSE THE THEN EXILED IRAQI PRIME MINISTER. AT THE WAR'S END, HE MOVED SOUTH TO A VILLAGE OUTSIDE DRESDEN AND THE PAINTING WAS GIVEN TO THE HOUSEKEEPER AS PAYMENT. A DESCENDANT OF THE HOUSEKEEPER IDENTIFIED IT THROUGH A DATABASE OF LOST ARTWORK AND CONTACTED THE MUSEUM, REFLECTING WHAT EISSENHAUER CALLED A GENERATION CHANGE THAT IS BENEFITING THE MUSEUM. 'MANY PAINTINGS ARE CHANGING HANDS AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS STARTING TO ASK WHERE THEY CAME FROM', EISSENHAUR SAID. 'WE ARE HOPING THAT THE CURVE WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP.'

BERLIN'S ALTE NATIONALGALERIE PRESENTS AN EXHIBITION OF RETURNED WORKS

THE LOVE GODDESS APHRODITE IS GOING HOME TO ITALY AFTER THE NEW YEAR, STRONGER AND MORE STABLE THAN SHE HAS BEEN IN 2,500 YEARS. THE STATUE, BEING RETURNED TO SICILY AS PART OF ITALY'S DECADE-OLD CAMPAIGN TO RETRIEVE ANTIQUITIES IT SAYS WERE ILLEGALLY BROUGHT TO CALIFORNIA, WILL BE THE LAST OF 40 ARTIFACTS THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM AGREED TO TURN OVER. SEBASTIANO MISSINEO, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE FROM SICILY, VISITED THE GETTY VILLA IN MALIBU ON MONDAY AND VIEWED THE STATUE. THE STATUE WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE GETTY FOR ONE MORE WEEK, ACTING GETTY DIRECTOR DAVID BOMFORD SAID AT A TEA FOR MISSINEO MONDAY. THE GETTY HAS BUILT A SEISMIC WAVE ISOLATOR FOR APHRODITE THAT WILL PROTECT HER IN THE EARTHQUAKE-PRONE SICILIAN REGION, HE SAID. FOR THE TRIP, THE STATUE WILL BE DISMANTLED AND SHIPPED WITH THE ISOLATOR TO AIDONE, SICILY. 'WE ARE ORGANIZING THE OPENING DAY FOR THE LAST DAYS OF MARCH', MISSINEO SAID. 'WE ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR ANEW SITE FOR THIS STATUE AT THE MUSEUM. THAT SITE WILL BE READY IN A FEW YEARS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD OCCASION NOT JUST FOR AIDONE, BUT SICILY TOO.' MISSINEO ALSO VIEWED THE MARBLE AGRIGENTO YOUTH, A STATUE LOANED TO THE GETTY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN EARTHQUAKE BASE. BOTH SIDES SAY THE DISCORD CAUSED DURING ITALY'S ANTIQUITIES HUNT HAS SPAWNED A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION AND RECIPROCATION BETWEEN THE GETTY AND SICILY. SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, INCLUDING OBJECT CONSERVATION, EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION OF COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND CONFERENCES, ARE PLANNED. THE GETTY HAS ALWAYS DENIED KNOWINGLY BUYING ILLEGALLY OBTAINED OBJECTS, AND THE DEAL THAT FORMER GETTY DIRECTOR MICHAEL BRAND SIGNED WITH ITALY IN 2007 INCLUDES NO ADMISSION OF GUILT. EVEN THE 6 YEAR OLD CASE AGAINST FORMER GETTY ANTIQUITIES CURATOR MARION TRUE WENT AWAY IN OCTOBER WHEN A JUDGE IN ROME RULED THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS IN HER CASE HAD RUN OUT. SHE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF KNOWINGLY ACQUIRING LOOTED ART FROM ITALY.

APHRODITE STATUE TO BE RETURNED TO SICILY

THE LOVE GODDESS APHRODITE IS GOING HOME TO ITALY AFTER THE NEW YEAR, STRONGER AND MORE STABLE THAN SHE HAS BEEN IN 2,500 YEARS. THE STATUE, BEING RETURNED TO SICILY AS PART OF ITALY'S DECADE-OLD CAMPAIGN TO RETRIEVE ANTIQUITIES IT SAYS WERE ILLEGALLY BROUGHT TO CALIFORNIA, WILL BE THE LAST OF 40 ARTIFACTS THE J PAUL GETTY MUSEUM AGREED TO TURN OVER. SEBASTIANO MISSINEO, THE MINISTER OF CULTURE FROM SICILY, VISITED THE GETTY VILLA IN MALIBU ON MONDAY AND VIEWED THE STATUE. THE STATUE WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE GETTY FOR ONE MORE WEEK, ACTING GETTY DIRECTOR DAVID BOMFORD SAID AT A TEA FOR MISSINEO MONDAY. THE GETTY HAS BUILT A SEISMIC WAVE ISOLATOR FOR APHRODITE THAT WILL PROTECT HER IN THE EARTHQUAKE-PRONE SICILIAN REGION, HE SAID. FOR THE TRIP, THE STATUE WILL BE DISMANTLED AND SHIPPED WITH THE ISOLATOR TO AIDONE, SICILY. 'WE ARE ORGANIZING THE OPENING DAY FOR THE LAST DAYS OF MARCH', MISSINEO SAID. 'WE ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT FOR ANEW SITE FOR THIS STATUE AT THE MUSEUM. THAT SITE WILL BE READY IN A FEW YEARS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD OCCASION NOT JUST FOR AIDONE, BUT SICILY TOO.' MISSINEO ALSO VIEWED THE MARBLE AGRIGENTO YOUTH, A STATUE LOANED TO THE GETTY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN EARTHQUAKE BASE. BOTH SIDES SAY THE DISCORD CAUSED DURING ITALY'S ANTIQUITIES HUNT HAS SPAWNED A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION AND RECIPROCATION BETWEEN THE GETTY AND SICILY. SEVERAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, INCLUDING OBJECT CONSERVATION, EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION OF COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITIONS, SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND CONFERENCES, ARE PLANNED. THE GETTY HAS ALWAYS DENIED KNOWINGLY BUYING ILLEGALLY OBTAINED OBJECTS, AND THE DEAL THAT FORMER GETTY DIRECTOR MICHAEL BRAND SIGNED WITH ITALY IN 2007 INCLUDES NO ADMISSION OF GUILT. EVEN THE 6 YEAR OLD CASE AGAINST FORMER GETTY ANTIQUITIES CURATOR MARION TRUE WENT AWAY IN OCTOBER WHEN A JUDGE IN ROME RULED THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS IN HER CASE HAD RUN OUT. SHE HAD BEEN ACCUSED OF KNOWINGLY ACQUIRING LOOTED ART FROM ITALY.

APHRODITE STATUE TO BE RETURNED TO SICILY

THREE HOODED THIEVES STOLE A TRUCK CONTAINING 28 PIECES OF ART INCLUDING WORKS BY PICASSO, COLOMBIAN ARTIST FERNANDO BOTERO AND SPANISH SCULPTOR EDUARDO CHILLIDA, SPANISH POLICE SAID RECENTLY. A POLICE STATEMENT SAID THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FROM A WAREHOUSE NEAR THE TOWN OF GETAFE ON MADRID'S SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS LAST SATURDAY. OFFICERS WENT TO THE WAREHOUSE AFTER AN ALARM SOUNDED AND FOUND THE DOOR OF THE BUILDING HAD BEEN FORCED OPEN. ON ARRIVAL, THE OWNER TOLD POLICE THAT THE TRUCK WAS MISSING. A POLICE OFFICER SAID SECURITY CAMERA RECORDINGS SHOWED THE ROBBERY WAS CARRIED OUT BY THREE HOODED PERSONS AND THAT THE KEYS HAD BEEN LEFT INSIDE THE TRUCK. HE SAID THE TRUCK WAS NOT ARMORED. THE OFFICIAL SPOKE ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY IN LINE WITH DEPARTMENT RULES. POLICE FOUND THE VEHICLE EMPTY IN A NEARBY AREA OF ALCORON, SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPITAL. POLICE PROVIDED NO DETAILS OF THE WORKS OTHER THAN THE ESTIMATE VALUE TO BE AROUND $6.6 MILLION, ADDING THAT SEVERAL OF THE PIECES WERE NOT INSURED. THE WORKS BELONGED TO SIX GALLERIES IN MADRID, BARCELONA AND COLOGNE, GERMANY. THEY HAD JUST COME BACK FROM BEING ON EXHIBIT IN GERMANY. CRISOSTOMO, THE SPANISH TRANSPORT COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE, DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE THEFT. DAVID FERNANDEZ DIRECTOR OF THE JUAN GRIS GALLERY IN MADRID SAID THEY HAD A SCULPTURE AND A COLLAGE BY CHILLIDA STOLEN IN THE THEFT. 'IT GAVE US A BIG FRIGHT BECAUSE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US', HE TOLD SPANISH NATIONAL RADIO. 'WE'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT PIECES AND IRREPLACEABLE.'

THIEVES STEAL VAN CONTAINING 20 ARTWORKS

THREE HOODED THIEVES STOLE A TRUCK CONTAINING 28 PIECES OF ART INCLUDING WORKS BY PICASSO, COLOMBIAN ARTIST FERNANDO BOTERO AND SPANISH SCULPTOR EDUARDO CHILLIDA, SPANISH POLICE SAID RECENTLY. A POLICE STATEMENT SAID THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN FROM A WAREHOUSE NEAR THE TOWN OF GETAFE ON MADRID'S SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS LAST SATURDAY. OFFICERS WENT TO THE WAREHOUSE AFTER AN ALARM SOUNDED AND FOUND THE DOOR OF THE BUILDING HAD BEEN FORCED OPEN. ON ARRIVAL, THE OWNER TOLD POLICE THAT THE TRUCK WAS MISSING. A POLICE OFFICER SAID SECURITY CAMERA RECORDINGS SHOWED THE ROBBERY WAS CARRIED OUT BY THREE HOODED PERSONS AND THAT THE KEYS HAD BEEN LEFT INSIDE THE TRUCK. HE SAID THE TRUCK WAS NOT ARMORED. THE OFFICIAL SPOKE ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY IN LINE WITH DEPARTMENT RULES. POLICE FOUND THE VEHICLE EMPTY IN A NEARBY AREA OF ALCORON, SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPITAL. POLICE PROVIDED NO DETAILS OF THE WORKS OTHER THAN THE ESTIMATE VALUE TO BE AROUND $6.6 MILLION, ADDING THAT SEVERAL OF THE PIECES WERE NOT INSURED. THE WORKS BELONGED TO SIX GALLERIES IN MADRID, BARCELONA AND COLOGNE, GERMANY. THEY HAD JUST COME BACK FROM BEING ON EXHIBIT IN GERMANY. CRISOSTOMO, THE SPANISH TRANSPORT COMPANY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE, DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE THEFT. DAVID FERNANDEZ DIRECTOR OF THE JUAN GRIS GALLERY IN MADRID SAID THEY HAD A SCULPTURE AND A COLLAGE BY CHILLIDA STOLEN IN THE THEFT. 'IT GAVE US A BIG FRIGHT BECAUSE NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO US', HE TOLD SPANISH NATIONAL RADIO. 'WE'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT PIECES AND IRREPLACEABLE.'

THIEVES STEAL VAN CONTAINING 20 ARTWORKS

AN EDGAR DEGAS PAINTING THAT WAS STOLEN 37 YEARS AGO AND RECENTLY REDISCOVERED BEFORE AN AUCTION IN NEW YORK WILL BE RETURNED TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, US OFFICIALS SAID RECENTLY. US ATTORNEY LORETTA LYNCH AND JAMES T HAYES JR, HEAD OF THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ANNOUNCED THAT A MANHATTAN SELLER HAD AGREED TO TURN OVER THE PAINTING, 'LAUNDRY WOMAN WITH TOOTHACHE', WITHOUT A FORFEITURE PROCEEDING. SOTHEBY'S HAD GIVEN THE SMALL OIL PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN HOLDING HER JAW AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $350,000 to $450,000. COURT PAPERS SAID THE SELLER, WHOSE FATHER HAD OBTAINED THE SIGNED PIECES, DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS STOLEN. THE FAMILY HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION FROM FRENCH AUTHORITIES. THE RETURN OF THE RARE 19th CENTURY WORK 'REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THE RETURN OF STOLEN ARTWORK AND CULTURAL PATRIMONY', LYNCH SAID IN A STATEMENT. SOTHEBY'S OFFICIAL DIANA PHILLIPS SAID THE AUCTION HOUSE 'IS HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS DISCOVERY AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT THIS PAINTING WILL BE RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE.' THE SELLER, SHE ADDED, 'WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS AND THROUGHOUT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE.' AUTHORITIES SAID DEGAS PAINTED 'BLANCHISSEUSES SOUFFRANT DES DENTS' IN THE EARLY 1870s. A COLLECTOR DONATED IT TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE LOUVRE MUSEUM. IN 1961, THE LOUVRE LENT THE PAINTING TO THE MALRAUX MUSEUM IN NORMANDY. IN LATE 1973, A STILL UNKNOWN THIEF PULLED IT OFF THE MUSEUM WALL AND SLIPPED AWAY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, SOTHEBY'S FEATURED THE PAINTING IN THE CATALOG FOR A SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST ART. A MALRAUX EMPLOYEE SPOTTED THE LISTING AND NOTIFIED SOTHEBY'S WHICH IMMEDIATELY PULLED IT FROM THE AUCTION. STENCILED ON THE BACK OF THE CANVAS BUT HIDDEN BY THE FRAME WAS 'RF 1953-8', SHORTHAND FOR IT BEING THE EIGHTH WORK OF ART ACQUIRED BY THE FRENCH REPUBLIC IN 1953. PHILLIPS SAID THAT BEFORE THE AUCTION, SOTHEBY'S HAD CHECKED TO SEE IF THE PIECE WAS LISTED ON THE LONDON BASED ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH TRACKS DOWN STOLEN, LOOTED OR MISSING ART, AND SIMILAR DATABASES. 'UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PAINTING WAS NOT LISTED IN THESE DATABASES SO SOTHEBY'S HAD NO EVIDENCE THAT IS HAD BEEN STOLEN WHEN IT ACCEPTED THE PAINTING FOR SALE', SHE SAID.

US GOVERNMENT TO RETURN STOLEN PAINTING TO FRANCE

AN EDGAR DEGAS PAINTING THAT WAS STOLEN 37 YEARS AGO AND RECENTLY REDISCOVERED BEFORE AN AUCTION IN NEW YORK WILL BE RETURNED TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT, US OFFICIALS SAID RECENTLY. US ATTORNEY LORETTA LYNCH AND JAMES T HAYES JR, HEAD OF THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ANNOUNCED THAT A MANHATTAN SELLER HAD AGREED TO TURN OVER THE PAINTING, 'LAUNDRY WOMAN WITH TOOTHACHE', WITHOUT A FORFEITURE PROCEEDING. SOTHEBY'S HAD GIVEN THE SMALL OIL PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN HOLDING HER JAW AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $350,000 to $450,000. COURT PAPERS SAID THE SELLER, WHOSE FATHER HAD OBTAINED THE SIGNED PIECES, DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS STOLEN. THE FAMILY HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION FROM FRENCH AUTHORITIES. THE RETURN OF THE RARE 19th CENTURY WORK 'REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THE RETURN OF STOLEN ARTWORK AND CULTURAL PATRIMONY', LYNCH SAID IN A STATEMENT. SOTHEBY'S OFFICIAL DIANA PHILLIPS SAID THE AUCTION HOUSE 'IS HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS DISCOVERY AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT THIS PAINTING WILL BE RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE.' THE SELLER, SHE ADDED, 'WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS AND THROUGHOUT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY COOPERATIVE.' AUTHORITIES SAID DEGAS PAINTED 'BLANCHISSEUSES SOUFFRANT DES DENTS' IN THE EARLY 1870s. A COLLECTOR DONATED IT TO THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE LOUVRE MUSEUM. IN 1961, THE LOUVRE LENT THE PAINTING TO THE MALRAUX MUSEUM IN NORMANDY. IN LATE 1973, A STILL UNKNOWN THIEF PULLED IT OFF THE MUSEUM WALL AND SLIPPED AWAY. EARLIER THIS YEAR, SOTHEBY'S FEATURED THE PAINTING IN THE CATALOG FOR A SALE OF IMPRESSIONIST ART. A MALRAUX EMPLOYEE SPOTTED THE LISTING AND NOTIFIED SOTHEBY'S WHICH IMMEDIATELY PULLED IT FROM THE AUCTION. STENCILED ON THE BACK OF THE CANVAS BUT HIDDEN BY THE FRAME WAS 'RF 1953-8', SHORTHAND FOR IT BEING THE EIGHTH WORK OF ART ACQUIRED BY THE FRENCH REPUBLIC IN 1953. PHILLIPS SAID THAT BEFORE THE AUCTION, SOTHEBY'S HAD CHECKED TO SEE IF THE PIECE WAS LISTED ON THE LONDON BASED ART LOSS REGISTER, WHICH TRACKS DOWN STOLEN, LOOTED OR MISSING ART, AND SIMILAR DATABASES. 'UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PAINTING WAS NOT LISTED IN THESE DATABASES SO SOTHEBY'S HAD NO EVIDENCE THAT IS HAD BEEN STOLEN WHEN IT ACCEPTED THE PAINTING FOR SALE', SHE SAID.

US GOVERNMENT TO RETURN STOLEN PAINTING TO FRANCE