SENSATIONAL THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

SENSATIONAL THEFT.

PICTURE WORTH £20,000.

PAINTING CUT FROM FRAME.

How a famous painting, estimated to be worth over £20,000, was stolen while in transit between Brussels and London is a problem;that the Belgian police and Scotland Yard officers have been trying to solve. The missing picture is the " Concert des'Agnes," by Van Dyck. The painting measures five feet six inches by four feet three inches, and depicts the Madonna and Child with cherubs around. The circumstances of its disappearance are most mysterious. The picture had been sent by its owner, M. Bechbache, a Belgian, to the Godfrey Phillips Galleries, in London for sale. The packing case which contained it remained in the hold of a steamship in London Docks for a few days before being transferred to Mr. Phillips' shop. When the case.was opened in a yard near the galleries it was found that the canvas had been cut' from the frame. Telegrams were immediately dispatched to M. Bechbache, and information was given.to Scotland Yard. Mr. Godfrey Phillips stated that he received a letter from the owner dated December 13, saying he was sending the picture by the Brussels Steamship Company the next day. He continued, "I did-not hear any more until the afternoon of December, 30, when the steamship company telephoned to say that the case had arrived at London Docks. A carter from the St. James' Packing Company told me the case had arrived, and he was followed * by a member of the firm, who said the frame was damaged, and asked me .to. look at' it. I said. 'Never mind; is-the'• picture all right?' but the carter . replied, ' Picture ? There isn't. a.. picture ■ there!' :I , hurried to the packing .yard and foutid that the Anvas had been hacked away'very unevenly from the frame. It looked as if it were either the. work'of a novice or an expert in a great hurry. The picture has • been much sought after lately, and.l was goihg to buy it after I had examined-it'."' ■ - M. Bechbache was most distressed, by his loss,, particularly as, it is understood, the picture was only insured for a quarter of the sum it would fetch in the saleroom.. The police tried first of all to find out the tiipe and place of the theft, but lack of clues handicapped investigation. Inquiries. were made of the various transport officials through whope hands the picture passed, and an effort was made to trace the movements of the packing case' during the journey from Brussels. » The police were inclined to believe that the theft occurred on the other side of the water. It was thought possible that the case might have been tampered with while it lay in Antwerp.