The Most Notorious Art Thefts of the 20th Century: The History and Legacy of Recent Attempts to Steal Valuable Artwork by Charles River Editors
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Overview: Hans Memling, a painter from Flanders, is the holder of an unfortunate record. He painted a triptych, The Last Judgment, commissioned by Medici banker Angelo Tani. The paintings were intended for a new chapel in Fiesole in Tuscany, near the city of Florence. However, in April 1472, the ship on which they were being transported from Bruges to Florence was intercepted by Polish privateer and Danzig Town Council leader Paul Beneke. The captured ship and its cargo were taken to the Polish city of Gdansk, and Memling’s triptych was placed on display in St Mary’s Church in that city. The Last Judgment remained as an altarpiece in Gdansk until it was moved to the National Museum in Gdansk in the 20th century.
This is generally accepted as the first documented instance of modern art theft, and it marks an important turning point. Prior to this, no self-respecting privateer would have bothered to steal a painting – they would have instead concentrated on coinage, gold or silver, or precious stones, items that, in other words, had a high intrinsic value. Paintings had no such value, though many had great subjective importance.
Genre: Non-Fiction > History
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