Pranksters deface masterpieces in outdoor show

1:00pm Sunday 6th July 2008

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ART chiefs yesterday pleaded with vandals to stop sabotaging York’s open air art gallery, after a number of items in it were stolen or defaced.

Three of the 49 replica paintings hung around York city centre as part of the Grand Tour initiative have now been stolen, and although all have been found again, several others have been vandalised. Professional restorers have had to be brought in on an almost daily basis.

Michael Woodward, director of business development at York Museums Trust, said yesterday: “The thefts and vandalism are a concern as it takes a lot of time and effort to keep the paintings looking their best. So far all the stolen paintings have been recovered close by, so we have been able to put them back for the public to enjoy. Graffiti has been a problem and the team of restorers have had to be called almost daily.

“We appreciate the imagination that some people have put in, but we do urge them to stop and let everyone enjoy the paintings in their original condition.”

Examples of doodles on the paintings include:
•A telephone placed in the hand of Madame Moitessier in the portrait by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
•A nipple ring added to Delilah, on Samson And Delilah by Rubens
•A paper bag placed over the head of the Grotesque Old Woman attributed to Quinten Massys
•A cannabis joint placed in the hand of Christ, in The Supper At Emmaus by Caravaggio.

The Press previously reported how Claude-Oscar Monet’s Bathers At La Grenouillere had been stolen from Dame Judi Dench Walk. It was subsequently found in the Museum Gardens.

Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire was also removed, from King’s Staith, but was found nearby shortly afterwards.

The most recent theft was of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, which had been hanging at St Helen’s Church. It too was recovered.

Despite the damage and thefts, Mr Woodward said the innovative, open-air exhibition was proving popular.

He said: “The Grand Tour in York seems to have really struck a chord with the people of Yorkshire and the response has been overwhelming.

“The leaflets telling people where the paintings are have been in real demand and the comments made by visitors to staff at the sites run by York Museums Trust have all shown real support for the project. The website, www.thegrandtourinyork.org.uk, has already had more than 5,000 visitors.

“The special History Of York tour on the site is proving very popular.”