Spate of art thefts in Italy

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 13

Spate of art thefts in Italy

(N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright > ROME, September 1

Rome detectives are leading a nation-wide search for a number of I paintings, worth the equivalent of ' SNZI4m, which have been stolen in Italy this week in a series of art thefts.

The most valuable missing painting is “Sacred Conversation,” by the Venetian Renaissance master, Titian. It was stolen from a church in

the little North Italian village of Pieve Dicadore, which was Titian’s home.

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus and flanked by kneeling saints. It was painted in 1560 for Titian’s private family chapel, and its value is estimated in hundreds of thousands of dollars. The thieves also took from the church 13 other works of art, together valued at 1000 million lire ($1,427,300). They are mostly works by lesser Italian artists from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century.

Also missing are two precious fifteenth century ikons, one Russian and the other Greco-Byzantine. The Titian theft was discovered by the local parish priest, who became ill immediately after reporting it to the police. According to his account, the works of art were probably stolen by three thieves who hid themselves behind the organ before the church closed for the night, and escaped early in the morning through an emergency exit. Another 14 paintings, valued at 100 million lire ($143,730), were stolen yester-

. day from the Rome residence |of a wealthy businessman. , The paintings were mostly the work of lesser Italian - masters, including Piazzetta, llPadovanino and Cabianca. I About 30 modern Italian

(paintings, worth about 40 .million lire ($57,870), were also stolen yesterday in the (north Italian city of Udine, from the apartment of a .local industrialist. The authorities announced earlier this year that thefts of paintings, sculpture and other works of art were taking place at a rate of nearly one a day. Last year, thieves got away with art treasures estimated at $42.8m and this year’s haul will be even higher.

The Vatican has recently ordered stricter security for religious works of art, but churches and convents often remain inadequately guarded. Measures are being considered by the Government to protect the nation’s art heritage.