Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Picasso double take

Mitya New
Monday 24 October 1994 20:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

ZURICH - Seven paintings by Pablo Picasso, worth about pounds 28m and uninsured, have been stolen from a private Zurich art gallery. They include two taken from the same gallery three years ago.

The thieves forced their way into the Modern Art Centre at the weekend from the cellar of a neighbouring house. The works were from the painter's 'blue' and 'rose' periods, among about 80 given to the gallery owner Max Bollag's father by the artist during the First World War.

A painting by the Bulgarian-born painter Jules Pascin, who was closely associated with Marc Chagall and Amedeo Modigliani in a circle of artists based in Paris early this century, is also missing.

Mr Bollag said in June 1991 after the two most valuable works, Seated Woman and El Cristo de Montmartre, were first stolen, that he no longer insured the pictures because premiums were prohibitive. The paintings were recovered in February 1992. Three men were jailed for 18 months to three years.

Mr Bollag, 81, said the works would be of little use to the thieves. 'They would not be so easy to sell; they (the thieves) can let them disappear, they can try blackmail,' he said. 'I don't know what goes on in the heads of such idiots.'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in