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Police investigate destruction of famous artworks
ABC News ^
| Fri, 17 May 2002 9:56 AEST
Posted on 05/16/2002 9:46:38 PM PDT by gd124
French police are investigating the destruction of more than 60 paintings by major artists worth more than $2.5 billion.
Police say the mother of the man responsible for stealing the famous artworks destroyed them to cover up her son's crimes.
Police say 31-year-old Stephane Breitwieser stole the paintings and other art works from more than 170 European museums, include the Louvre.
But when he was arrested his mother Mireille was so enraged she allegedly dumped around 100 precious objects, including 17th and 18th century sculptures, into a canal.
She is then accused of slashing 60 paintings by masters and feeding them through the garbage disposal system.
Police say she destroyed the art works because she was afraid of losing her job.
Her son says he only stole the works he liked.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: art; artworks; criminal; france; idiot; paintings; sculptures
When I read things like this I feel deep revulsion and disgust. What kind of criminal idiot would destroy thousands of years of European culture just because she was angry that her son was caught.
Has anyone found any pictures of the destroyed artwork?
1
posted on
05/16/2002 9:46:38 PM PDT
by
gd124
To: gd124
French police are investigating the destruction of more than 60 paintings by major artists worth more than $2.5 billion. The artists are worth that much?
2
posted on
05/16/2002 9:50:00 PM PDT
by
absinthe
To: gd124
This is so sad...I cannot believe anyone would do this.
3
posted on
05/16/2002 11:02:23 PM PDT
by
brat
Comment #4 Removed by Moderator
To: absinthe
When one Van Gogh sells for 30 million, you can see why that many would add up!
To: gd124
If I typed what I felt,..........
I'd be on suspension again!
To: gd124
What I can't understand is how this one guy managed to swipe over 170 works of art from as many museums before getting caught.
His mother's actions make more sense if we view them as trying to destroy the evidence.
VietVet
7
posted on
05/17/2002 12:42:42 AM PDT
by
VietVet
To: VietVet
Apparently he never sold any of them which is why he lasted so long without being found out.
8
posted on
05/17/2002 1:47:53 AM PDT
by
gd124
Comment #9 Removed by Moderator
To: gd124
10
posted on
05/17/2002 6:23:58 AM PDT
by
vannrox
To: RIGHT IN SEATTLE
"I'd be on suspension again!"Double-secret probation?
To: gd124
bump
12
posted on
05/17/2002 6:50:01 AM PDT
by
ELS
To: gd124
I always thought that genetics were very important. But considering we have a brilliant but misguided son and an idiot mother, I may have to reevaluate.
13
posted on
05/17/2002 6:53:55 AM PDT
by
staytrue
To: vannrox
Who is the artist and what is the title for the center work on your post #10? It's beautiful!
To: ScreamingFist
Go
HERE to see all the kinds of artists that paint in the classical style. I can't remember which painter it is, but I would suggest you look into ALMA-TDEMA , and J.W.Waterhouse, and Caravaggio for starters.
15
posted on
05/17/2002 5:29:06 PM PDT
by
vannrox
To: seamole
What kind of criminal idiot would destroy thousands of years of European culture...
An EU Citizen.
Obviously a Philistine..... :)
16
posted on
05/17/2002 5:48:34 PM PDT
by
xp38
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