Latin American Sale
Christie's
7 PM, Nov. 21, and 10 AM, Nov., 22, 2000
Lot 21, "Caballo," bronze sculpture, by Fernando Botero, 1985, above.
There are several works by Fernando Botero (b. 1932), the best of which is Lot 21, a very lovely bronze sculpture of a saddled horse with a lustrous dark patina, which was executed in 1985 in an edition of six. The lot has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $259,000.
Thieves in Italy get 7 statues by Colombian artist Botero worth more than $5 millionhttp://www.pr-inside.com/print261737.htm2007-10-23 17:49:48 -
[MSN] Thieves in Italy get 7 statues by Colombian artist Botero worth more than ¤3 million (US$5 million) . The statues were stolen from Pietrasanta, a Tuscan town where Botero spends part of the year. The works depict figures including a ballerina, a sparrow and a male nude, all designed in the rounded style of Botero's art, an official with the Carabinieri paramilitary police said.ROME (AP) - Burglars broke into a foundry in Tuscany over the weekend and made off with seven bronze statues by Colombian artist Fernando Botero, officials said Tuesday.
The works are worth ¤3.5 million (US$5 million) and depict figures including a ballerina, a sparrow and a male nude, all designed in the rounded style of Botero's art, an official with the Carabinieri paramilitary police said.
The statues were stolen from Pietrasanta, a Tuscan town where Botero spends part of the year, said Lt. Angelo Murgia.
Sometime during the weekend, burglars forced the foundry's back door and then broke into a metal cupboard that housed the statues, each 50-70 centimeters (20-27 inches) tall and weighing 25-30 kilograms (55-66 pounds).
The works had been insured, Murgia said.
Barbara Lazzeri, the wife of one of the foundry's owners, said an alarm at the factory had not been activated, as it was often accidentally set off by animals, and that the break-in was discovered Monday when the business reopened after the weekend.
«There are pieces by other artists here, but they took only those by Botero,» Lazzeri told The Associated Press by telephone from the foundry.
She and Murgia said the burglars seemed to be after Botero works, indicating the theft may have been commissioned.
Murgia said two other Botero statues, a rooster and a Colombian idol, were stolen from the artist's home and studio in Pietrasanta in 2006.
Botero, who was in New York, was told about the new theft on Monday.
«He was quite angry and stopped production of all his works,» Lazzeri said. «He said he will continue to work in Pietrasanta only if the foundries are made secure.
Famed for his works on Colombian life, including images of the 40-year-old conflict in the South American country, Botero created controversy in recent years with drawings and paintings depicting abuse of prisoners by U.S. troops at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
Art Hostage comments
It is interesting to note that the real money that will be made out of this theft will be the copies made from these casts.
Also, notice how the alarm was turned off, because of animals, wonder if this will affect the insurance payout ?
At this early stage, it appears to be another case of an "Inside Job"
If these Botero sculptures are not recovered quickly, then expect to see copies, taken from these originals, appearing of the market over the next few years.
Wonder if in the future the same foundries will be making the copies, if they loose the contract with Botero ??
What we need here is someone who can quietly arrange a recovery, perhaps in the presence of legal representatives, what's the Italian for Marshal Ronald, Calum Jones, Robert Graham, and John Doyle ?
Any suggestions on who may meet this requirement, I know,
Serpico !!!!!
What is the English translation of the name Serpico ??