Famous paintings found at bus stops after theft, sold for 30.8 billion won
Jul 05, 2024
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According to the New York Post and other foreign media, a painting by Italian artist Titiano Becellio, a Renaissance master, was sold for $22.3 million (about 30.8 billion won) at a Christie's auction in London on the 2nd (local time).
The winning work was named `The Rest on the Flight into Egypt' and was completed in 1502 by Titian Becellio.
This work is an early work by Titian and depicts Jesus, Mary, and Joseph seeking refuge in Egypt.
The painting was purchased by the 4th Marquess of Bath in 1878 and hung on the walls of the family's mansion for more than a century, with two other paintings, including this one, stolen in 1995.
He went missing for the next seven years and was recovered by famous art detective Charlie Hill in 2002.
Before finding the painting, the detective was confident that "the problem is that even if you steal a famous painting, there is no way to sell it" and "if you provide the right reward, the painting can appear.'
At the time, the detective offered a $130,000 reward, but one day, he got the picture back from an old man at a bus stop he visited after receiving a call from an informant.
At the time of the collection, the work was valued at more than $6 million, which nearly quadrupled in value after about 22 years.
bellho@sportschosun.com
