Edvard Munch's 'Scream,' 'Madonna' Stolen
Rick in Oz
Munch's Famous 'Scream,' 'Madonna' Stolen
Edvard Munch's Famous Paintings 'The Scream,' and 'Madonna' Stolen From
Norway Museum
The Associated Press
OSLO, Norway Aug. 22, 2004 - Armed men stormed into an art museum Sunday,
threatened staff at gunpoint and stole Edvard Munch's famous paintings "The
Scream" and "Madonna" before the eyes of stunned museum-goers.
The thieves yanked the paintings off the walls of Oslo's Munch museum and
loaded them into a waiting car outside, said a witness, French radio
producer Francois Castang.
Police spokeswoman Hilde Walsoe said the two or three armed men threatened a
museum employee with a handgun to give them the two paintings, including
"The Scream" Munch's famed depiction of an anguished figure with its head in
its hands.
"No one has been physically injured, and the suspects escaped in an Audi A6.
We are searching for the suspects with all available means," Walsoe told The
Associated Press.
Many museum visitors panicked and thought they were being attacked by
terrorists.
"He was wearing a black face mask and something that looked like a gun to
force a female security guard down on the floor," visitor Marketa Cajova
told NTB public radio.
"What's strange is that in this museum, there weren't any means of
protection for the paintings, no alarm bell," Castang told France Inter
radio.
"The paintings were simply attached by wire to the walls," he said. "All you
had to do is pull on the painting hard for the cord to break loose which is
what I saw one of the thieves doing."
Castang said police arrived on the scene 15 minutes later. Visitors were
ushered into the museum's cafeteria.
"We don't have all the details on the situation, but we are searching for
the suspects in the air and on land," Police Spokesman Kjell Moerk told the
public radio network NRK.
It was the second time in 10 years that "The Scream" has been stolen. In
February 1994, the work was taken and remained missing for nearly three
months. Police ultimately recovered the work, which is on fragile paper,
undamaged in a hotel in Asgardstrand, about 40 miles south of the capital,
Oslo. Three Norwegians were arrested.
At the time, investigators said the trio tried to ransom the painting,
demanding $1 million from the government. it was never paid.
Munch, a Norwegian painter and graphic artist who worked in Germany as well
as his home country, developed an emotionally charged style that was of
great importance in the birth of the 20th century Expressionist movement.
He painted "The Scream" in 1893, as part of his "Frieze of Life" series, in
which sickness, death, anxiety, and love are central themes. He died in 1944
at the age of 81.
The National Art Museum owns 58 paintings by Munch.
From Sunny Oz, Rick :)
Proud Keeper of the talented & beautiful Halle Berry.
azindn
These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
didn't the museum
change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
irresponsible if not.
Hans Petter Laberg
>
> These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
> didn't the museum
> change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
> irresponsible if not.
"Scream" was stolen in 1994 (during the opening sermony of the Olymic
Games in Lillehammer). The thing is, there are 4 different versions of
"Scream", and the one that was stolen in '94 was in the National
Gallery. This time it's the one that's in the Munch Museum that was
stolen. But you're right: it's a disgrace.
HPL
Argyle
On 22-Aug-2004, azi...@hotmail.com (azindn) wrote:
> These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
> didn't the museum
> change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
> irresponsible if not.
On 22-Aug-2004, azi...@hotmail.com (azindn) wrote:
> These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
> didn't the museum
> change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
> irresponsible if not.
It certainly makes me wonder if they really do consider them as "state
treasures." The Scream is truly a magnificent work of art and should be
protected at all and any cost!
Jerks!
azindn
And today it is reported the paintings were not insured. Well, how does
one insure a one of a kind, irreplacable object of cultural significance?
Try doing the Mona Lisa under glass route, or perhaps, installation that is
not based in 19th century aesthetics. National Museum of Natural History uses
a great system to protect the Hope Diamond, also irreplacable and one of a kind.
Now the museum director is pleading with the thieves not to destroy the paintings
which can not be sold because they are too well known. Hello, remember Monet's
"Impression Sunrise"????
russell c.
> Now the museum director is pleading with the thieves not to destroy the paintings
> which can not be sold because they are too well known.
Only if they were stupid enough to steal the paintings planning to
look for buyers later. Most likely they were hired by whomever wanted
the paintings.
sea...@unc.edu
> "Rick in Oz" <ozbadcat@h*tmail.com> wrote in message news:<202Wc.305$aH.2...@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au>...
> > http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/Entertainment/ap20040822_423.html
> >
> > Munch's Famous 'Scream,' 'Madonna' Stolen
> > Edvard Munch's Famous Paintings 'The Scream,' and 'Madonna' Stolen From
> > Norway Museum
> These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
> didn't the museum
> change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
> irresponsible if not.
Well, it must have been on loan to Oslo because when I saw it (It
was stolen a few months after I'd been there in '94.), it was housed in
Copenhagen.
cl
Craig Smith
>> > Munch's Famous 'Scream,' 'Madonna' Stolen
>> > Edvard Munch's Famous Paintings 'The Scream,' and 'Madonna' Stolen From
>> > Norway Museum
>
>> These are my two favorite Munch works. Having been stolen in 1995,
>> didn't the museum
>> change/upgrade/double its security systems? This borders on
>> irresponsible if not.
>
> Well, it must have been on loan to Oslo because when I saw it (It
>was stolen a few months after I'd been there in '94.), it was housed in
>Copenhagen.
There are four versions of the painting, each called "Scream," and
each nearly identical, apparently. One down, three to go, I guess.
.:. Craig
Jim Shaffer, Jr.
>And today it is reported the paintings were not insured. Well, how does
>one insure a one of a kind, irreplacable object of cultural significance?
>Try doing the Mona Lisa under glass route, or perhaps, installation that is
>not based in 19th century aesthetics. National Museum of Natural History uses
>a great system to protect the Hope Diamond, also irreplacable and one of a kind.
Oh? What are they doing with it these days? The last time I saw it, it was in
a vault in the wall behind glass so thick you could barely see through it.