Related News
Rembrandt drawing stolen from California hotel
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2011, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
A 17th-century drawing by Rembrandt was snatched from a private art display at a California luxury hotel in US while a curator was momentarily distracted, officials said yesterday.
The theft of the US$250,000 sketch from the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the upmarket seaside community of Marina del Rey happened around 10:30pm Saturday night while someone who seemed interested in buying another piece held the curator's attention for a few minutes.
"When the curator turned back to the Rembrandt, it was gone," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. It was not clear whether the person talking to the curator was connected to the theft, though Whitman said a team of at least two people was involved.
The sketch, called "The Judgment," was completed around 1655 and is signed on the back by the Dutch master. Rembrandt von Rijn is widely regarded as one of the finest painters in European art history and his worldwide name recognition has made his work a common target for thieves.
"Rembrandt is a name that criminals know or should know," said Chris Marinello, executive director of the London-based Art Loss Register, an international database of stolen artworks. "When they come across one, they see dollar signs."
Marinello said the theft was likely a crime of opportunity and not an operation carried at the command of a mysterious criminal with a private art collection, as is often depicted in movies.
The theft of the US$250,000 sketch from the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in the upmarket seaside community of Marina del Rey happened around 10:30pm Saturday night while someone who seemed interested in buying another piece held the curator's attention for a few minutes.
"When the curator turned back to the Rembrandt, it was gone," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. It was not clear whether the person talking to the curator was connected to the theft, though Whitman said a team of at least two people was involved.
The sketch, called "The Judgment," was completed around 1655 and is signed on the back by the Dutch master. Rembrandt von Rijn is widely regarded as one of the finest painters in European art history and his worldwide name recognition has made his work a common target for thieves.
"Rembrandt is a name that criminals know or should know," said Chris Marinello, executive director of the London-based Art Loss Register, an international database of stolen artworks. "When they come across one, they see dollar signs."
Marinello said the theft was likely a crime of opportunity and not an operation carried at the command of a mysterious criminal with a private art collection, as is often depicted in movies.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
