Detail of "La pastorale" de Henri Matisse Pastoral 1905 Photo: Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

This week, 5 works of art from the 20th century, including a Picasso and a Matisse, were stolen from the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. A daring theft, and one that will be in the news for sometime I imagine.

However, this daring theft, which netted paintings valued at over 100 million Euros, was made somewhat easier by the incredible mistakes made by the museum. The multi-million pound alarm system (installed at a cost of 15 million pounds in 2006, according to news reports) had been broken for THREE months. The thief broke in by simply removing a reinforced window. Where were the guards? Sleeping. In fact, it took three hours before the theft was even discovered, when the day workers arrived. I imagine someone will be looking for a new line of work.

Don’t expect the paintings to be on the market any time soon. It appears they were stolen “to order” as they are far too well known to be sold through any legitimate channels. Perhaps they will enter the art collection of some shadowy super villain…

It normally takes several weeks to complete a painting , but in this high-speed video the artist gets it done in less than 90 seconds…

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2_dgTCSO3U

http://www.oceansbridge.com/oil-paintings/video-testimonials.php

200 new paintings added to our Fine Arts Budapest collection

A new collection of paintings from the National Portrait Gallery

And 280 New Paintings added to our Saint Louis Museum of Fine Art Collection

Enjoy!

Here are a few interesting paintings that show “unusual” objects.

The Annunciation with Saint Emidius by Carlo Crivelli (look closely at the disc shining the light down on Mary)

Check out the source of the ray of light

This next one is even stranger. What the object is I really don’t know, but the painting was done in 1600 and can still be seen in the  San Lorenzo church in San Pietro, Montalcino, Italy. It looks uncannily like Sputnik, yet either side of it are seated God and His son. 

The object in the top of the painting seems rather out of place!

  And, a detail -

What does it all mean? The most obvious solution is to assume these are just coincidences or that the meaning of these things has been lost in time. Or, in some cases, that the artists just didn’t do a very good job! 

Next on the list a Madonna and Child painting by Domenico Ghirlandai, with closeups - 

  But wait, it gets weirder in the closeups - 

And finally, a pretty remarkable flying saucer in Aert De Gelder’s “Baptism of Christ” painting. 

Baptised by WHAT?!

Li Ze Zhong Article

I particularly enjoyed the light/dark theme and the style of the paintings.

I have fond memories of watching the programs as a child (anyone else remember Morph? Claymation in the pre-Wallace and Gromit days!). The TV shows must have had a big influence on me and my other English colleagues, judging by our choice of careers!