News: Van Gogh Stolen in Egypt

Last week, Egypt and the art world were stunned when Vincent Van Gogh’s Poppy Flowers valued at $50 million was stolen from Cairo’s Mahmoud Khalil Museum. This theft is actually the second time the painting has been stolen from the museum, the first being in 1978- it was recovered two years later in Kuwait.
 
The theft occurred during daytime hours and was possible because only 7 out of 47 cameras in the museum were functional at the time and the alarm system was not working, or had been disconnected. Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, is pledging for a renewed effort to secure the country’s artifacts but meanwhile, the painting still remains at large despite the Egyptian government detaining staff and confiscating passports.
 
Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris has offered a reward of 1 million Egyptian pounds ($175,000) for information that would help recover the Van Gogh painting.
 
Mahmoud Khalil Museum
1, Kafour St., El Cairo, Ägypten – 02 3362378

View Larger Map