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BLOG | May 11 2020

Stolen Paintings

SoolNua’s Patrick Delaney, looks into famous stolen paintings. A lucrative business – where morality and high art collide.

Our culture piece this month is inspired by CNN’s post on famous stolen paintings. Stealing art is a lucrative business, don’t get any ideas now … stick to your day job!

The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring

Van Gogh's "The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring"
Van Gogh’s “The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring”

WATCH OUT, art thieves are always lurking and waiting for their opportunity to pounce! This certainly was the case when Van Gogh’s “The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring” was recently stolen from a Dutch museum closed due to COVID-19.

Mona Lisa

Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"
Leonardo Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”

Did you know that in 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from Louvre by Italian handyman, Vincenzo Peruggia?! It took two years for the police to recover it.

La Coiffeuse (The Hairdresser)

Picasso's "La Coiffeuse" ("The Hairdresser")
Picasso’s “La Coiffeuse” (“The Hairdresser”)

Picasso’s “La Coiffeuse” was stolen in 2001. It was recovered over a decade later in December 2014 after being shipped from Belgium to the United States. The shipper listed the oil painting as a $37 Christmas present. A bargain for one of Pablo’s masterpieces that is worth millions.

What a spectacular Christmas present that would have been!