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Art Hostage has learnt the so called "Main Course" art theft this summer 2009 is to be Titian's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" first stolen in 1995 and recovered in 2002, which is currently housed in the State Drawing Room at Longlest House, home to the Marquis of Bath.
Back-story:
Stolen £5m Titian found in carrier bag after seven-year hunt
Art Hostage has learnt the so called "Main Course" art theft this summer 2009 is to be Titian's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" first stolen in 1995 and recovered in 2002, which is currently housed in the State Drawing Room at Longlest House, home to the Marquis of Bath.
Back-story:
Stolen £5m Titian found in carrier bag after seven-year hunt
The seven-year hunt for a stolen Titian masterpiece worth more than £5m has ended with the discovery of the painting, safe inside a plastic carrier bag.
The work, Rest on the Flight into Egypt, by the 16th century Venetian master, was taken from the first floor state drawing room of Lord Bath's Longleat estate in Wiltshire in January 1995.
Yesterday it emerged that the painting, which has lost its frame but is otherwise intact, had been discovered in the Greater London area in a plastic shopping bag after a search led by the leading art detective and former Scotland Yard officer Charles Hill, who is now security adviser to the Historic Houses Association.
A £100,000 reward was offered for information leading to its safe return following the theft. But details of what has happened with the reward and the recovery itself have not been revealed until now for what are described as operational reasons. Two years after the theft it was reported that Longleat received a ransom demand for the painting.
Painted on a wooden panel 2ft wide, the picture is one of Titian's most famous and depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus as an infant with Joseph looking on.
It was bought by the 4th Marquess of Bath at auction from Christie's in 1878.
Speaking yesterday, Longleat's general manager Tim Moore said he was delighted the work had been found intact. "It has been a long and difficult process but we are all extremely pleased that the painting is finally safe," he said.
"Mr Hill is the leading expert in his field and he has remained confident throughout that the picture would eventually turn up.
"He was appointed to recover the painting, he has succeeded and we are extremely grateful for all his hard work."
The painting will undergo conservation work before being returned to its country home, but it is not thought to be badly damaged.
Lord Bath, who is in France, was said to be delighted at the news of the painting's safe recovery. He said: "I will wait until I have been able to see it with my own eyes before I get too excited or make any further comments."
Interesting to note, Mark Dalrymple, the Art Loss Adjuster tasked with recovering the Titian was also in France because he could not be seen to be party to the paying of the £100,000 reward when in fact Mark Dalrymple knew full well Charlie Hill was going to buy the Titian back. Mark Dalrymple made sure he was in France so he could look innocent.
2009 Titian Under Threat
The work, Rest on the Flight into Egypt, by the 16th century Venetian master, was taken from the first floor state drawing room of Lord Bath's Longleat estate in Wiltshire in January 1995.
Yesterday it emerged that the painting, which has lost its frame but is otherwise intact, had been discovered in the Greater London area in a plastic shopping bag after a search led by the leading art detective and former Scotland Yard officer Charles Hill, who is now security adviser to the Historic Houses Association.
A £100,000 reward was offered for information leading to its safe return following the theft. But details of what has happened with the reward and the recovery itself have not been revealed until now for what are described as operational reasons. Two years after the theft it was reported that Longleat received a ransom demand for the painting.
Painted on a wooden panel 2ft wide, the picture is one of Titian's most famous and depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus as an infant with Joseph looking on.
It was bought by the 4th Marquess of Bath at auction from Christie's in 1878.
Speaking yesterday, Longleat's general manager Tim Moore said he was delighted the work had been found intact. "It has been a long and difficult process but we are all extremely pleased that the painting is finally safe," he said.
"Mr Hill is the leading expert in his field and he has remained confident throughout that the picture would eventually turn up.
"He was appointed to recover the painting, he has succeeded and we are extremely grateful for all his hard work."
The painting will undergo conservation work before being returned to its country home, but it is not thought to be badly damaged.
Lord Bath, who is in France, was said to be delighted at the news of the painting's safe recovery. He said: "I will wait until I have been able to see it with my own eyes before I get too excited or make any further comments."
Interesting to note, Mark Dalrymple, the Art Loss Adjuster tasked with recovering the Titian was also in France because he could not be seen to be party to the paying of the £100,000 reward when in fact Mark Dalrymple knew full well Charlie Hill was going to buy the Titian back. Mark Dalrymple made sure he was in France so he could look innocent.
2009 Titian Under Threat
Moving onto 2009 and Art Hostage has been watching very carefully the increasing art thefts carried out by the Irish Pink Panthers and learnt there was going to be a spectacular art theft before August 31st 2009.
No details were given until now and Art Hostage felt caught between a rock and a hard place.
No details were given until now and Art Hostage felt caught between a rock and a hard place.
How to prevent this theft from happening and protect the Titian in the process.
Should Art Hostage contact Police and warn them ???
No, Police would not react and could try to allow this theft to happen so they can arrest the culprits, therefore putting the Titian in danger of being damaged.
Should Art Hostage contact the Marquis of Bath to warn him ?
No, because the Marquis of Bath will immediately contact Police who will in turn try to paint Art Hostage as being less than honourable.
A dilemma indeed, until Art Hostage took advice from a man who has become an inspiration to Art Hostage.
This man, who I will introduce at a later date, counseled Art Hostage on the virtues of the art and explained it is always the art that must take priority, especially Masterpieces on view to the Public.
Sure the Marquis of Bath is rich and enjoys a lavish lifestyle, but he is just a temporary custodian of the Titian and if the theft went down it would be the public that suffers.
With this in mind Art Hostage has decided to post this breaking news and that means both Police and the Underworld will both know the plan to steal the Titian has been exposed.
Memo to the Irish Pink Panthers
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Please leave the Marquis of Bath alone and stay clear of Longleat House.
On Monday, Police will race to Longleat House and security will be stepped up.
Any attempt to steal the Titian will not now succeed so please cross Longleat House off the list.
Memo to Police, Mark Dalrymple and Charlie Hill
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Art Hostage has given you fair warning in this case and hopefully you will race to Longleat and protect the Titian.
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The now seven year old personal dispute between Mark Dalrymple and Charlie Hill should be put to one side and both of you should attend Longleat House to disscuss with the Marquis of Bath how best to protect the Titian, which is now worth a stagering £25 million.
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Not convinced that Titian's Rest on the Flight into Egypt is worth £25 million, well see link below regarding the two Titians recently saved for the British nation, sold at a bargin price we are told:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/feb/02/art-titian-diana-actaeon
Art Hostage has decided detente is the best solution, whereby Police don't arrest thieves trying to steal the Titian and Thieves don't attempt to steal the Titian, possiblty damaging it in the process.
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A case of the Police lose, the thieves lose, but the Public win
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