Even Napoleon Stole It: Which Painting Holds the Record for the Most Thefts
The “Ghent Altarpiece” is considered the most frequently stolen work of art in history. Over the course of nearly 600 years, it has been stolen or illegally removed at least seven times, and Napoleon Bonaparte was among those who took possession of the masterpiece.
This is reported by History Facts.
The altarpiece, created by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck in 1432, has survived numerous robberies, attempts at destruction, and wars. In 1794, French troops transported four of its panels to Paris, where they remained in the Louvre until Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. Afterward, the work was returned to Belgium.
During World War II, the “Ghent Altarpiece” was nearly destroyed, but it was saved. Today, it is considered one of the most remarkable works of Christian art.
Despite this, one of the altar panels has been missing for over 90 years. A copy of it is currently on display at St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium, while the whereabouts of the original remain unknown.
Source: History Facts.
In Vilnius, a work by Ukrainian photographer Boris Mikhailov, which was featured in the exhibition “Ukrainian Dreamers: The Kharkiv School of Photography,” was stolen from the Art Museum in the Radziwill Palace.
