Culture vultures
Yet more from Hansard, this time on theft of artwork from the DCMS:
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Angus of 21 April 2008, Official Report, columns 1737-8W, on departmental property, what the (a) title and (b) Government Art Collection reference number was of the art work stolen from his Department in 2006".
I would have thought the name of the artist would be of more interest than the GAC number, but what do I know?
And the list, GAC numbers excised:
Paradox No. IV
Blackfriars from Southwark Bridge
Lower Wessex Lane, Summer
Lower Wessex Lane, Spring
Strand on the Green
Third day of Creation
Gondola III
Hall of Christ Church Hospital
A bit of sniffing around discloses that some of these works show up on the gac.culture website, and where they do they are hyperlinked above.
That the work titled Paradox IV neither shows in the inventory and has been swiped is particularly amusing. None of the paintings have any great wow factor to my mind, and if not exactly Athena level are hardly bleeding edge art either. Not that I am pointing a finger, the works in question all walked on the odious Jowell's watch, and moreover in the year when she and Mills decided to 'split'.
While I decidedly do not approve of theft, there is some comedy value in DCMS people stealing art. I do worry about the MoD though.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Angus of 21 April 2008, Official Report, columns 1737-8W, on departmental property, what the (a) title and (b) Government Art Collection reference number was of the art work stolen from his Department in 2006".
I would have thought the name of the artist would be of more interest than the GAC number, but what do I know?
And the list, GAC numbers excised:
Paradox No. IV
Blackfriars from Southwark Bridge
Lower Wessex Lane, Summer
Lower Wessex Lane, Spring
Strand on the Green
Third day of Creation
Gondola III
Hall of Christ Church Hospital
A bit of sniffing around discloses that some of these works show up on the gac.culture website, and where they do they are hyperlinked above.
That the work titled Paradox IV neither shows in the inventory and has been swiped is particularly amusing. None of the paintings have any great wow factor to my mind, and if not exactly Athena level are hardly bleeding edge art either. Not that I am pointing a finger, the works in question all walked on the odious Jowell's watch, and moreover in the year when she and Mills decided to 'split'.
While I decidedly do not approve of theft, there is some comedy value in DCMS people stealing art. I do worry about the MoD though.
Labels: crime and punishment, Parliament, The arts
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on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 9:45 am.
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I like how the link to Gondola III has no image and says "Copyright Holder Unknown".
Lose that first word, guys.
Also, is it just me or would no-one with any taste actually hang these childish daubings in the shed at the end of the garden except for darts practice?
If you're going to steal something, at least show some taste.
Doubtless the trustees of the National Gallery or whatever would not allow the greasy mitts of the DCMS anywhere near anything good....
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