A Van Gogh painting stolen in 2020 has been found in the Netherlands

The Vincent van Gogh painting stolen in March 2020 from the Singer Laren Museum in Laren, Netherlands, but owned by the Groninger Museum in Groningen, which had loaned it for an exhibition, has been found. The work, Neunen’s Rectory Garden, also known as the Spring Garden, had been stolen on the night of March 29-30 (curiously enough on the anniversary of the artist’s birth, born March 30, 1853), when the museum was closed due to the Covid emergency.

Thus, three and a half years have passed since the theft, and now the work can return home. The investigation is still ongoing , however, and no details have been revealed about the operations that led to the work’s discovery: all that is known is that the police were involved in every stage of the recovery. Moreover, a suspect had already been arrested and convicted in 2021. The work is currently housed at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

“The Groninger Museum,” says director Andreas Blühm, “is extremely happy and relieved that the work is back. It is currently in good company at the Van Gogh Museum. We are very grateful to our colleagues in Amsterdam for their hospitality. On behalf of the employees, all the residents and visitors of Groningen, we are very grateful to everyone who contributed to this good result. Arthur Brand [Dutch art historian specializing in art crimes, ed.] played a key role in this case and the museum appreciates him very much.”

The painting has suffered but, from initial analysis, still appears to be in good condition. A scientific investigation will be carried out in the coming months. At the moment it is not known when the painting will return to Groningen: it could take weeks or months.

Vincent van Gogh’s painting is from 1884, and is an oil on paper applied to panel. It is the only Vincent van Gogh painting in the Groninger Museum’s collection and is one of the highlights of the collection. It had been in a private collection in Groningen since the early 20th century and was donated to the City of Groningen in 1962.

Image: Vincent van Gogh, Rectory Garden in Neuen in Spring (1884; oil on paper applied to panel, 39 x 72 cm; Groningen, Groninger Museum)

A Van Gogh painting stolen in 2020 has been found in the Netherlands

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.