FBI prevents $100 million painting from being shown

[Ptah]

At 4:30 a.m. last August, Brian Seastone received a life-changing phone call. The voice on the other end of the line informed the University of Arizona chief of police that Woman-Ochre, a painting stolen from the UA Museum of Art over 30 years ago, had been recovered at a location just three hours away.

“I woke up really quick after that,” Seastone said. “I think there was a smile that broke out ear-to-ear. I don’t think I had ever had one quite that big. All I could say to myself was, ‘It’s finally coming home.’

{snip}

"Woman-Ochre" is valued at approximately $100 million



{snip}

In the year since the painting’s recovery, the FBI case is still open, meaning "Woman-Ochre" is still considered evidence. Thus, the painting cannot be repaired or put on display.

“We’re really at a standstill until the FBI closes the case,” Miller said.

http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2018/08/a-woman-ochre-1-year-ann

[blogslut]

1. I watched a WFAA doc about it. The couple hung it in their bedroom for years and years

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

2. Thats incredible! Art thieves? Sounds like they may have done it before.

I have to say....it's a cool picture but, unless it was painted w crushed diamonds i dont get the value. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.
I'm surprised they didn't put the door handle through that baby before the screw. Abstract expressionism.....I'll say. I like the alters house. (VERY cool.) Man that's remote looking. I wonder if it's still scrub desert around there or if it's built up?
Intriguing story. Teachers? There's a lesson in here somewhere.
Imagine the Mr.'s glee getting that story published...Eye of the Jaguar sounds a lot like Eye of the Tiger that was famous in their heyday. So strange.
If they had mad money on one teachers salary, did they steal and sell one before? if yes....I wonder which one(s).
This would make a great book.
Im thinking the movie taken at 17:00 was when they first bought the house. Look at the low landscaping. They watered the living crap out of those things for a long time and by the time they died...it looked like a desert oasis. @21:17.
21:40..Hey, they got away w it, and did it looking good. All the while teaching class. Heh heh. Ahhhhhhh.

[MiniMe]

3. Very interesting, thanks for posting

[brush]

4. Wow! What a story. Thanks for posting.

[Ptah]

9. Thanks for the link to that documentary.

Fascinating

[left-of-center2012]

5. $100 million ?

It looks like my dinner napkin after I wipe my mouth.

[Ptah]

6. You should be on E-bay.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. 100 cents would be too much.

[nuxvomica]

10. It's a sign of rampant income inequality

IIRC, in the late 80s or 90s, a Rousseau sold for $40 million and it was considered a big deal but he was a Post-Impressionist and it was in line with what Impressionists were fetching. I don't follow the art market but I knew income inequality was out of control when a Warhol sold for $70 million in this century. There are people so wealthy now that they can't find enough things to buy so art prices for well-known 20th-century artists get jacked up like this.

[JI7]

11. yup, it's a status thing like designer bags. i don't think most of them are really into art

either.

[Luciferous]

8. I wouldn't pay $5 for that...

[Duppers]

12. Agree.