In an overnight burglary, two significant artworks by Andy Warhol were stolen from the MPV Gallery in North Brabant, Netherlands. The heist revolves around four silkscreens from Warhol's Reigning Queens series, with two pieces featuring the revered late Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe II of Denmark.
Andy Warhol Paintings Stolen in Dutch Gallery Heist
Andy Warhol Paintings Stolen in Dutch Gallery Heist
Two notable Warhol works featuring world-renowned queens taken in art theft as police investigate.
Local authorities revealed that the break-in was accompanied by what appeared to be an explosion, causing substantial damage to the gallery and neighboring structures. The culprits reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle after abandoning two additional prints which depicted Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini; these were left behind due to their inability to fit in the thieves' transport.
The stolen works were scheduled for display and sale as a set at the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair later this month. These silkscreen paintings, completed in 1985, are part of a broader collection of 16 created by Warhol, widely recognized as one of the foremost artists of the 20th century. Notably, similar pieces, including those of Queen Elizabeth II, fetched over £500,000 each during a Sotheby's auction in 2022, underscoring the significant financial and cultural value of the stolen artworks.
The stolen works were scheduled for display and sale as a set at the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair later this month. These silkscreen paintings, completed in 1985, are part of a broader collection of 16 created by Warhol, widely recognized as one of the foremost artists of the 20th century. Notably, similar pieces, including those of Queen Elizabeth II, fetched over £500,000 each during a Sotheby's auction in 2022, underscoring the significant financial and cultural value of the stolen artworks.
