Stolen … and Found – Four Old Masters

Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665)
King Midas at the Source of the River Pactole
Oil on Canvas – 58 x 82 cm
Ajaccio, Musée Fesch
Photo : Didier Rykner

As originally reported in the Art Tribune, four Old Master paintings were stolen February 21, 2011, from the Musée Fesch in Ajaccio, Corsica, including works by Nicolas Poussin, Gentile Bellini and Mariotto di Nardo. Remarkably, as just reported, all four paintings have just been recovered May 4 and are soon due to be rehung in the Museum.

Philippe Costamagna, the museum director, said, “I am pleased to see the return of these works which are a national treasure,” he added. “I was sure we would eventually find them, but I thought it would be either immediately after the theft or else after several years. A little more than a year later, is unusual, but finally, not long at all.“

Palais Fesch
Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Ajaccio
Photo : Didier Rykner

Musée Fesch
Room of the italian primitives
On the left, Bellini’s Madonna and Child
Photo : Didier Rykner

Giovanni Bellini (1432-1516)
Vierge à l’enfant
Tempera sur panneau – 65 x 46,54 cm
Ajaccio, Musée Fesch
Volé le 19 février 2011
Photo : Musée Fesch

Mariotto di Nardo (actif entre 1394 et 1424)
La Pentecôte
Tempera sur panneau – 47 x 28 cm
Ajaccio, Musée Fesch
Volé le 19 février 2011
Photo : Musée Fesch

Anonyme ombrien du XVIe siècle
Vierge à l’Enfant dans une gloire de séraphins
Huile sur panneau – 53 x 34 cm
Ajaccio, Musée Fesch
Volé le 19 février 2011
Photo : Musée Fesch

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