2020 – Pivotal for Art, Trivial for Museums
This has certainly been one long, strange year. Full of bumps along the way that few people can avoid. Fortunately, more and more people seem to be making art as an outlet or to release 2020 tensions. While many industries have taken nose dives this year, art is one thing that is flourishing. Unless, of course, the art is currently in a museum or gallery. Many have implemented virtual tours as their doors remain closed amid covid-19. Vacant galleries and museums are incredibly vulnerable to thefts or defacing. Art thieves were very quick to realize this and seize their chances. Here are some of the more notable art theft headlines of this year.
The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884 – Van Gogh
In the early morning hours of March 30th 2020, a precious Van Gogh piece was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in the Netherlands. Just after 3am, a brazen thief wielding a hammer smashed his way into the museum. Shortly thereafter, the same man can be seen fleeing with a painting tucked under his arm. The stolen art is an oil painting by Van Gogh titled The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring. The theft of this piece was bad news for Singer Laren, not only because it was a priceless work but also because the piece wasn’t owned by the museum. The painting was on loan from a separate art museum. Police and detectives are still on the trail, but have yet to find sufficient evidence to make an arrest.
Two Laughing Boys with a Mug of Beer – Frans Hals
It’s no secret that some paintings are certainly coveted more than others. Their pricelessness stems from the creator, time period or an array of other factors. Two Laughing Boys with a Mug of Beer by Frans Hals is one of those special paintings. This would be the third time that this piece has been stolen. Frans Hals was an artist from the Golden Age of Dutch of Painting, he is sometimes referred to as a Dutch master. The work in question is an oil painting from 1626 worth nearly $18M. Like the Van Gogh theft earlier this year, thieves forcibly entered Hofje van Aerden Museum in Netherlands just after 3am. It is unclear whether or not this theft is related to similar crimes in the area.
3 Stolen Paintings by Phase 2
Phase 2 was an American graffiti artist that lived on the East Coast. He was one of the original influencers of graffiti as an art form, developing the first use of ‘bubble letter’ style graffiti font. Phase 2, Michael Lawrence Marrow, passed away just before 2020 due to complications with ALS. In February 2020, a thief made off with not one or two, but three of Phase 2’s paintings. The art was stolen from an NYC studio just before 4am. Some see the theft as ironic. As NYPD has spent incalculable amounts of time trying to stamp out guerilla street artists like Phase 2 since the movement began. Yet, now the same officials are working to secure Phase 2’s works.
Oxford University Art Heist
Three high value paintings were stolen from Oxford University in England in March 2020. The paintings were on display in Christ Church Picture Gallery. The paintings stolen were A soldier on Horseback 1616 by Anthony van Dyck, A Boy Drinking 1580 by Annibale Carracci, and A Rocky Coast, With Soldiers Studying A Plan 1640 by Salvator Rosa. Although, these pieces are not ‘priceless’, and hold a collective price tag of over $12m. Art thieves can only hope earn a portion of that valuation however.
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