Well, not really, but, somehow, a stolen Normal Rockwell painting ended up in his collection:
A Norman Rockwell work stolen in suburban St. Louis more than three decades ago was found in Steven Spielberg’s art collection, the FBI announced Friday.
The painting, Rockwell’s “Russian Schoolroom,” was snatched during a late-night burglary at a gallery in Clayton, Mo., on June 25, 1973. The Oscar-winning filmmaker purchased the painting in 1989 from a legitimate dealer and didn’t know it was stolen until last week, the FBI said in a statement.
Spielberg’s staff alerted federal authorities, and an FBI agent and an art expert confirmed its authenticity Friday morning. Early FBI estimates put the painting’s value at $700,000, officials said.
A message left with Spielberg’s publicist was not immediately returned.
The oil-on-canvas painting shows children in a classroom with a bust of communist leader Vladimir Lenin. Spielberg is cooperating with the FBI and will retain possession of “Russian Schoolroom” until its “disposition can be determined,” the bureau said.
Mary Ellen Shortland worked at the since-closed Clayton Art Gallery when the painting was stolen 34 years ago. The gallery’s parent company, Circle Fine Art in Chicago, arranged for the Rockwell original to be on hand to draw visitors to a show of mainly lithographs, she said.
Shortland said a Missouri client bought the painting for $25,000, but agreed to let it remain on display. A few nights later, someone smashed the gallery’s glass door and stole the painting. The gallery refunded the client’s money.
March 5th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Buyer Beware
Stolen art has been found in the collection of a famous movie director.
A Norman Rockwell work stolen in suburban St. Louis more than three decades ago was found in Steven Spielberg?s art collection, the FBI announced Friday.
March 5th, 2007 at 9:36 am
[...] Hat tip- Below the Beltway [...]
March 19th, 2007 at 9:43 am
[...] Steven Spielberg: Art Thief Well, not really, but, somehow, a stolen Normal Rockwell painting ended up in his collection: A Norman Rockwell work stolen in suburban St. Louis more than three decades ago was found in Steven Spielberg’s art collection, the FBI announced Friday. The painting, Rockwell’s “Russian … [...]