What a cool story. I just read The Lady In Gold and hope to go see that 'stolen' painting in NY this summer. Klimt's pictures sure do have an air of mystery behind them.
This was so fascinating! I wonder if the thieves returned it after realizing that they couldn't sell it. Re-selling a piece that famous on the black market would be incredibly difficult. (Unlike ancient antiquities - antiquities trafficking is still a big problem. George, you would probably love this series from Freakonomics: https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/stealing-art-is-easy-giving-it-back-is-hard/ ) I do find the elaborate pranks with the forgeries really interesting. Glad that the painting is safe and back at the museum.
How very interesting. Reminds me of the tv series called White Collar. It always amazed me how the counterfeited paintings were always missing something subtle. Beautiful painting by Klimt. If only the “Portrait of a Lady” could speak.
Oooooh what fun! I love a good art mystery and this is one of the best. George you have just sent me down a rabbit hole of research to do…thank you so much for that!
It’s such a beautiful painting, I love her parted lips showing her teeth, very youthful and sensual.
Well told down to the last line!
Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.
What a cool story. I just read The Lady In Gold and hope to go see that 'stolen' painting in NY this summer. Klimt's pictures sure do have an air of mystery behind them.
This was so fascinating! I wonder if the thieves returned it after realizing that they couldn't sell it. Re-selling a piece that famous on the black market would be incredibly difficult. (Unlike ancient antiquities - antiquities trafficking is still a big problem. George, you would probably love this series from Freakonomics: https://freakonomics.com/podcast-tag/stealing-art-is-easy-giving-it-back-is-hard/ ) I do find the elaborate pranks with the forgeries really interesting. Glad that the painting is safe and back at the museum.
Yes, you’re absolutely right about how thieves often underestimate how hard it is to sell a stolen work.
So you could be right that they chose to return it (although still, it’s a very weird way to do it!)
And thanks for the podcast recommendation. Looks really interesting.
I am enjoying your entries here and look forward to learning more along the way about great art.
Thanks for being here.
This is the funnest place on Substack, in my opinion.
You told the story so well!
Thanks a lot. Much appreciated.
Loving these art theft story!
What a fun read for first thing in the morning! Thanks George, your essays are becoming an important part of my day.
Glad to know you enjoyed it. Thanks for being here.
Fantastic story.
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
Wild! I have never heard of this story. It does rather seem like a practical joke.
Rocambolesco
Point one, the frame couldn't have gone to the roof
Point two, how to make a hole in the wall 20 years later without being noticed
Point three, why to tell once and again that you have the painting
Conclusion
Only the gallery owner or workers can know the other way to put the frame on the roof and also the fact the wall hole had been always there
Someone close to them didn't manage to sell it or was regretted to
What a story! Curiouser and curiouser…
This is so fascinating. Beautiful art such as this is already enchanting, but worth the added mystery…wow. Thank you for this incredible story!
How very interesting. Reminds me of the tv series called White Collar. It always amazed me how the counterfeited paintings were always missing something subtle. Beautiful painting by Klimt. If only the “Portrait of a Lady” could speak.
Oooooh what fun! I love a good art mystery and this is one of the best. George you have just sent me down a rabbit hole of research to do…thank you so much for that!
It’s such a beautiful painting, I love her parted lips showing her teeth, very youthful and sensual.
Sounds like an underhanded deal to me...but that's my cynic talking. What say you George?
I really don’t know on this occasion.
If it was an underhand deal, it seems pretty unlikely that they would choose to make up a story like this.
But then again, it seems even more unlikely that the painting could be hidden for 22 years in a secret compartment that no-one ever saw before!
So either there is more to this story than we are told . . . or the truth really is stranger than fiction.
Ha ha. The Gardener did it!!
That's a good shout.