The thieves behind last year’s audacious heist of works from the Kunsthal Rotterdam have been sentenced to six years in prison for their thefts, which included works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin, and which held a total value of over $24 million.  The 2012 theft has yet to see the paintings recovered, and officials say that some of the works have been destroyed. (more…)

As the trial for the suspects in the 2012 theft from the Kunsthal Rotterdam looks to begin, Romanian director Tudor Giurgiu has begun work on a feature film about the suspected thieves, an action adventure that documents their rise to art world infamy.  “The subject sells itself, it is an excellent pretext for an action movie.”  Giurgiu said. (more…)

The suspects currently on trial for the theft of seven paintings from a Rotterdam Museum have pledged to return five of the works if their trial is moved from Romania to the Netherlands, the BBC reports.  Including works by Monet and Picasso, the total value of the works has been estimated at €18 million, and were feared destroyed by the mother of one of the thieves.  “It is more likely the paintings are intact. My client says they can be handed over to the Dutch authorities. In exchange, they want to go on trial in the Netherlands.”  Said lawyer Maria Varsii. (more…)

Romanian authorities have arrested three men suspected of the theft of seven paintings by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Paul Gaugin, and others from a Rotterdam museum.  The paintings were stolen last October in an overnight break-in. While the works have yet to be recovered, police believe that they are hidden in an undisclosed location in Romania.   (more…)