[MSN] GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- For the past 61 years, the Grand Rapids Art Museum possessed panel paintings from the Church of Saint Eustace in Italy. But those paintings were stolen in 1902, and the museum will soon return the works to the National Museum

[MSN]

AM to return stolen paintings from Italy
Posted: April 4, 2008 04:58 PM
Updated: April 4, 2008 10:51 PM

The paintings stolen from a church in Italy in 1902...
 
...ended up in Grand Rapids in 1947...
 
...and Museum Director Celeste Adams will now return them...
 
...to the church of St. Eustace in Campo di Giove, Italy
By Anne Schieber

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- For the past 61 years, the Grand Rapids Art
Museum possessed panel paintings from the Church of Saint Eustace in Italy.
But those paintings were stolen in 1902, and the museum will soon return the
works to the National Museum of Abruzzo, Italy.

The museum acquired the panel paintings in 1947, and had no knowledge they
were stolen 45 years previously. A recent series of events revealed the
truth, and the GRAM Board of Trustees voted to return the panels.

Over time, the museum suspected these paintings may have been stolen at one
point in their 500-year history, but never had confirmation until now. The
two pieces of Renaissance art were acquired in a trade with a New York
dealer.

Recently, the museum found evidence these paintings were stolen from a
church at least 100 years ago.

The evidence was definitive, said museum director Celeste Adams. "They had
photographs of the paintings from 1891 prior to the theft, they had
contemporary newspaper accounts and the police report of the theft."

That confirmed what the GRAM records showed, and returning the paintings is
"the absolutely correct thing to do," Adams told 24 Hour News 8.

The paintings will be on display at the Grand Rapids Art Museum from Tuesday
until May 4 before their return to Italy.

24 Hour News 8 will have more information as soon as possible.

http://www.woodtv.com/

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http://www.museum-security.org
http://www.museumbeveiliging.com
http://www.handboekveiligheidszorgmusea.nl
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