The notice of its loss had been given at the beginning of 2023. The art gallery indicates that they will not provide more information at the moment.
The two paintings that mysteriously disappeared from the Zurich Kunsthausa museum that has one of the most prestigious art collections in Switzerland, have reappeared under unclear circumstancesthe museum announced this Sunday.
The two works “have reappeared in good condition and will soon be able to be exhibited again among the collections,” the art gallery has indicated.
By early 2023, the Kunsthaus had lost track of the two paintings, framed and under glass: a Robert van den Hoecke from the mid-17th century that represents soldiers in a campand a still life with a vase of flowers Dirck de Bray dating back to 1673.
These two small formats – which are on permanent loan to private collectors – were removed at the same time as almost 700 other works to be cleaned and restored by the museum services, where a fire broke out on the night of August 2 to 3, 2022.
The case had caused commotion and concern, especially considering that almost three quarters of the collection of paintings and sculptures were donations from individuals or permanent loans. “After the paintings were examined by the Kunsthaus’ restoration service, it was found that the state of conservation of the two paintings was good,” the museum stated.
The mystery of the reappearance remains unsolved, and the Kunsthaus has stated that, due to the ongoing police investigation, “no further information can be provided at this time”.
Ann Demeesterdirector of the museum, and Philipp Hildebrandpresident of the Zurich Kunsthaus art society, declared themselves “extremely happy to have found these two beautiful paintings” and stressed that “The joy of the private owner and his family is also very great”.
The meticulous inventory that had been carried out did not include any of the other pieces removed after the fire.
The museum had also registered the two paintings in the Art Loss Register, the world’s largest database of lost and stolen works of art. According to the museum’s website, The Kunsthaus collections include almost 4,000 paintings and sculptures and 95,000 graphic works, spanning from the 13th century to the present day.
Some 1,000 works are permanently exhibited, including one large collection of Edward Munch and Alberto Giacometti.
