Paris art theft
June 10, 2009
The search for the valuable sketches was in full swing, a Paris police spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
It had been discovered on Tuesday morning that the volume of 33 Picasso sketches, originating from 1917 to 1924, was missing from Paris' Picasso Museum. The notebook measures 16 x 24 centimeters (roughly 6 x 9 inches) and has a red cover bearing the inscription "Album" in gold lettering.
Officials have said they believe the notebook was stolen, however, signs of a break-in were not initially apparent. The drawings had been kept in a heavy glass case, "that could only have been opened using special tools," according to a statement from the French Culture Ministry.
Museum blamed for negligent security
The Picasso Museum, located in the Marais neighborhood of the French capital, faced hefty criticism for its lax security measures. There were no security cameras in the room where the sketches were kept and also no alarm system, wrote the Paris daily Le Figaro on Wednesday.
The museum has been undergoing renovation for the past several months and is set to close completely for an expansion that would double its exhibition space.
In all, the Picasso Museum has 1,500 drawings by the Spanish artist, in addition to 200 paintings and 158 sculptures.
The artist's works consistently fetch high prices at auctions and have frequently been a target of theft.
Picasso, who lived from 1881 to 1973, is considered the investor of Cubism and is one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. He was born in Malaga, Spain, but lived for many years in Paris.
kjb/dpa/AFP/AP
Editor: Sean Sinico