The Art Theft of the Century: Stolen Masterpieces Likely Incinerated

At least three of a series of important 20th century paintings, stolen from Rotterdams Kunsthal Museum by a Romanian gang might have been destroyed, forensic scientists said

România Internațional, 09.08.2013, 12:30

At least three of a series of important 20th century paintings, stolen from Rotterdam’s Kunsthal Museum by a Romanian gang might have been destroyed, forensic scientists said after examining the ashes found in a stove in the tiny Romanian town of Carcaliu.

In a press conference on Thursday, the director of the Romanian National History Museum, Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu and the team of experts he runs seem to confirm the art world’s worst fears: three different paintings might have been burnt, considering the number of nails found in the debris.

Mr Oberlander Tarnoveanu says those copper nails and tacks were made by blacksmiths by the end of the 19th century and were used to tack canvas down. Such items would be nearly impossible to fake, he said, adding that his team discovered material that classical French, Dutch and other European artists typically used to prepare canvases for oil painting and remains of colors, like red, yellow, green, blue, gray.

The forensic analysis shows some of the pigments contained compounds like tin-lead yellow, for instance, which artists stopped using after the 19th century because of toxicity.

Ernest Oberlander-Tarnoveanu has further details: “We are 100% sure that what we’ve found are remnants of paintings. The number and type of nails indicate that at least three canvases have been burnt. We’ve also found a tack, which comes to prove the existence of a fourth painting. This is what we know for sure, it is certain, measurable, quantifiable, checkable. Any other expertise or counter-expertise will come to the same conclusions.”

Mr. Oberlander-Tarnoveanu declined to say whether it had been established that the ash found in the stove was in fact the burned remains of the stolen canvases. “That is for legal authorities to determine,” he said.

In her turn, Olga Dogaru, the Romanian woman who told investigators that she had incinerated seven works of art by Monet, Matisse, Picasso and other modern masters in an effort to protect her son, denied in court on Monday that she had burned the works.