Unveiling the Remarkable Resurgence: A Thrilling Triumph for the Art World's 'Indiana Jones'!
Stolen artworks worth â¬100,000, taken from Medemblik's old town hall in north Holland, have been successfully recovered by renowned art detective Arthur Brand, who managed to return them to Amsterdam, 40 miles away
Editors Note: This article first appeared in The Art Newspaper, a CNN Style editorial partner.
(CNN) Six paintings that were stolen from an old town hall in Medemblik, a small coastal town in north Holland, have been returned through an unconventional doorstep delivery to an art detective in Amsterdam, nearly 40 miles away.
Arthur Brand, renowned for his recent successful recovery of an early Van Gogh painting, Hitler's horse statues, and a Picasso artwork, revealed to The Art Newspaper that on the evening of Friday, October 13, he was at home watching a rather uneventful soccer match where Holland was trailing behind France with a score of 2-0. Unexpectedly, his doorbell rang, interrupting his leisurely evening. "They just showed up at my doorstep on a Friday night around 10:30 pm," he recalled. Dutch media reports indicate that he was approached by an individual, unrelated to the theft, who requested his assistance in unloading a delivery, unaware that it contained the stolen artworks. Following this encounter, Brand transported the paintings to his apartment before promptly notifying the authorities.
The theft of the six paintings occurred when Medemblik's former town hall was burglarized in early September. Along with a chandelier, other valuable items were also reported missing. To encourage their safe recovery, the local authority offered a reward of up to â¬10,000 (approximately $10,600) for any substantial information leading to their return.
Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the Art World," made international headlines last month after recovering a stolen work by Van Gogh.
Arthur Brand/AFP/Getty Images
"I believe the recovery of the Van Gogh last month directly influenced my efforts to locate 'The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring,' the artist's 1884 masterpiece," stated Brand. "The media attention surrounding the Van Gogh's return garnered international recognition, and one of the factors that led to its recovery was the thieves' inability to sell or dispose of it without attracting suspicion or facing harsher penalties.
"It is likely that the Medemblik thieves became apprehensive and perhaps suspected that the police were already closing in on them. They were left with two options - either destroy the artwork, which would have been ill-advised as it would only result in additional time behind bars if caught later on, or they chose to abandon it at my doorstep."
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These paintings, estimated to be valued at approximately â¬100,000 (or $106,000) collectively, encompass captivating pieces such as a significant local portrait of the ancient leader, King Radboud. Additionally, there are portraits of distinguished figures including Prince William of Orange, Maurits of Orange, Count Jan van Nassau, Queen Wilhelmina, along with a biblical scene. Presently, the paintings are held in police custody.
According to a spokesperson from the Medemblik municipality, the discovery came as a complete surprise. "Out of nowhere, one of our administrators received a message," she stated. "It's truly remarkable and somewhat mysterious, but we consider it to be fantastic news. We are particularly delighted that the Radboud painting has been returned, as it rightfully belongs to our municipality."
Deputy mayor Jeroen Broeders stated in a press release that the true value of something often becomes apparent only when it is no longer present, and this is undoubtedly the situation with these paintings.
Brand confirmed that he would not accept the reward, however, he disclosed his request for a book voucher.
Read more stories from The Art Newspaper here.
