Monday, November 20, 2006

Gotcha, Goya !! Good News to Report, at Last !!

Gotcha Goya !!


Missing Goya Painting Is Recovered


By BRADLEY HOPE
Staff Reporter of the Sun
November 20, 2006 posted 3:15 pm EST



The Francisco de Goya y Lucientes painting stolen as it was transported to a museum in New York was recovered in New Jersey, FBI officials said today.

The painting, "Children with a Cart," (1778), was taken from a truck that was parked overnight in a parking lot in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on November 8. The truck was bringing the painting to the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum from the Toledo Museum of Art for an exhibition on Spanish art that opened last Friday.

The FBI said the painting was found through tips that came about because of the extensive press coverage of the theft. Because the investigation is ongoing, the FBI isn't immediately providing information about the recovery or "possible criminal charges resulting from the investigation," according to a statement.

The painting was insured for $1 million. The company that insured it offered a $50,000 reward after the theft was first announced.

The FBI said the painting appeared to be undamaged.

Museum officials said the painting would be returned to the Toledo Museum of Art, where it has been part of the museum's permanent collection since 1959.

"We are ecstatic that the painting has been recovered, and we look forward to brining the Goya home and sharing it again with our community," the art director of the Toledo Museum of Art, Don Bacigalupi, said.

Art Hostage comments:

Upon relection, this must go down as one of the dumbest art thefts in recent history.
Why, because of the direct involvement of the Philadelphia FBI Art Crime Team.

The crooks could not have known but the FBI Agents in Philly are the most talented, revered Agents in the FBI, and so swift in their investigations that frankly, I am surprised it took this long to recover the Goya.

Talk about walking into the Lions Den, these crooks were on a loser from the start.

Before anyone else even contemplates stealing high value art in transit, I want to offer a warning.

This art is now protected in such a manner that the FBI will track it down within a matter of days, as proved in this case. This new technology has now been tested and proved to be successful.

If those engaged in criminal activity must commit crime, and I am not endorsing any crime, then look elsewhere for easier targets,

"Stealing art, Forget about it"

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