Missing Van Gogh painting reported found in safe-deposit box in Spain
Kunsthistorisches Art Museum. The Kunsthistorisches Art Museum in Vienna, above, was home to Vincent Van Gogh's "Cypress, Sky and Country" before it went missing four decades ago.
May 12, 2014, 12:42 p.m.
A long-missing painting
by Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have been discovered in Spain by tax
collectors who were going through the contents of a safe-deposit box.
The small work of art, titled "Cypress, Sky and Country," is thought to
have been missing for about four decades.
The Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the painting, found in December, measures a little more than 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide.
The landscape painting bears three seals on its back indicating that the work resided in different museums during the 20th century. The most recent seal appears to be from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, according to the report.
El Mundo said that the painting is dated 1889 and was probably created during Van Gogh's stay at the Saint-Rémy-de-Provence asylum in the south of France. Authorities in Spain are working on authenticating the painting, according to the paper.
The safe-deposit box was one of more than 100 targeted by Spanish officials in a tax-evasion investigation. The painting was discovered unframed in the box, El Mundo said.
Van Gogh's stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was a productive one. The tormented artist created his most famous painting, "The Starry Night," at the mental hospital.
The Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the painting, found in December, measures a little more than 1 foot tall and 1 foot wide.
The landscape painting bears three seals on its back indicating that the work resided in different museums during the 20th century. The most recent seal appears to be from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, according to the report.
El Mundo said that the painting is dated 1889 and was probably created during Van Gogh's stay at the Saint-Rémy-de-Provence asylum in the south of France. Authorities in Spain are working on authenticating the painting, according to the paper.
The safe-deposit box was one of more than 100 targeted by Spanish officials in a tax-evasion investigation. The painting was discovered unframed in the box, El Mundo said.
Van Gogh's stay in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence was a productive one. The tormented artist created his most famous painting, "The Starry Night," at the mental hospital.
My thoughts on this blog are very strongly advised to whom is watching this building. I want to know how did the man get away with stealing and selling these paintings for so long. I think that they should have better security and security cameras. Another question I have is how can a man get away with stealing a 1 foot and 1 inch painting, that is like stealing a new born baby because both are so priceless. Those are my Comments on the this current event. Joy Killebrew 4th period
ReplyDeleteI don't know if the painting is still in good condition but, I'm amazed that the painting is discovered after four decades of its absents. If that's Van Gogh's painting, the painting would have an interesting story behind it about how it found its way back to the museum.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that the painting was made so long ago could call for an interesting story, if they would backtrack it they could find out if it's been kept there or moved throughout a variety of different people, I'm wondering if it's still in good condition after being in a safe for so long without a frame, and hopefully we'll see it up in a museum with a better story on it. -Kimberly Wagner 6th period
ReplyDeleteI'm very amazed that they were able to find the painting after so long from having it missing. I think it's very strange that they found the painting unframed in a Safe-Deposit box but hopefully the painting was still in good condition when they discovered it. -Natalie Wilson 6th Period
ReplyDeletei think that that somebody already new were the painting was. they just never came out with it or there was a threat. they found the painting in the safe deposit. 7th period
ReplyDeleteMy comment on this blog is that why would somebody steal from the museum. I know the painting is good looking and all but it is not right to steal from anywhere or anybody. Its just not right at all. I wander if it is in good condition or are they going to do the painting over and put it back in the museum. But by the way this blog was interesting and glad they found the painting.
ReplyDeleteMy comment on this blog is that why would somebody steal from the museum. I know the painting is good looking and all but it is not right to steal from anywhere or anybody. Its just not right at all. I wander if it is in good condition or are they going to do the painting over and put it back in the museum. But by the way this blog was interesting and glad they found the painting.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though the painting was probably stolen, which isn't to surprising as it was found a safe being searched for tax-evading purposes. Although it is good that they found it as old art like this is irreplaceable.
ReplyDeleteWhy do good paintings like this go missing...
ReplyDeleteThis is very great to hear considering. The large amounts of stolen art was blindly tooken in plain sight for almost 40 years. This is something else
ReplyDeleteI thought this was an interesting article, even though I don't know much about art. I wonder how someone could steal a painting from a museum. I thought museums had lots of camera in them. Maybe, this was an inside job. After four decades, I wonder what kind of condition is the painting in. I wonder how many times has the painting been sold. Has the owner of the Safe Deposit box been arrested? I hope the painting gets restored and placed in a museum for all to see.
ReplyDeleteKel Nesbitt- 7th Period- Was the entire security squad on vacation or something?! That is literally the only thing I can think of as I read about a painting that large in size growing legs and walking out of the door. And what did they do when they realized something that large was missing? I'm not too focused on the fact that it went missing. I'm focused on the fact that it as been missing for 40years! Not days but years! If you plan on stealing something, these guys are definitely the ones to show you how to do it
ReplyDeleteI feel as if this has some background to it.. Like who put it there, who was the person, and why? I wonder how difficult was it to put it in there? And how many people did the person have to buy up to sneak it in there?
ReplyDeletei think that this was a very cool cause a legendary thief has finally been cuaght
ReplyDeleteI dont understand how it took so long for them to catch/find the theif. But atleast they did find the theif.
ReplyDeleteMany times you hear about missing art or stories about missing art but it is rare to find. I will be interested in finding out who the safe deposit box belongs to and how did that person end up with the painting. Clearly he or she is a criminal based on being investigated for tax evasion.
ReplyDelete