Talk about a bad year for keeping artworks intact. What, with Steve Wynn elbowing Picasso's 'Le Reve' (Insured? Oh yes, I think so), and now Munch’s ‘Scream’ getting absolutely, totally destroyed (well, practically). Yes, agreed, 2004’s hatchback bandits, Bjoern Hoen, Petter Tharaldsen and Petter Rosenvinge, were caught and sent down, and indeed, the painting was later found along with its friend, 'The Madonna'. And that’s great. It's fantastic. But, hey, remember, these works had spent a little hideout time in a bus. A bus? I ask you. The trio may have been able to leg it with a couple of million dollar masterpieces in broad daylight (above), but hell, let’s be honest here, they knew sweet FA about upkeep and care. A bus? Seriously? How exactly do you get rid off a stolen, damaged beyond repair, instantly recognisable masterpiece? Probably a good idea not to ask Hoen, Tharaldsen and Rosenvinge about that one. Probably best to stay clear of the Oslo police too; their report on the damage done was a whacking great 200 pages. What did they write, I wonder? Whatever, they certainly had a whole lot to say. The detail in the report must have been extreme. Must have excruciating (for both reader and writer). Detail is all good and well, but when the conclusion is nothing short of; it’s buggered, there’s no hope for renovation or repair, we’re screwed, it all seems a little, shall we say, frustrating. Still, you got to hand it to those investigating the theft; they did find the works and caught the thieving rascals. It couldn’t have been a stress free or easy job. It must have been nightmare, especially when the outcome turned out to be so hopeless.
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