Two Stolen Van Goghs Now On Display in Italy

From the You Really Should Remember to Update Your Passport If You Want to See This Department:

In 2002 two priceless paintings by Vincent Van Gogh were nicked from the Van Gogh Museum. As time passed by, hopes of recovering the paintings dimmed. These are small paintings and so could be better hidden then say, a Diego Rivera mural. The paintings are "Seascape at Scheveningen" (1882) and "Congregation leaving the Reformed Church at Nuenen" (1884 or 1885.) (Pictured, left)

And then police in Napoli, Italy got news that a drug lord Raffaele Imperiale had them in his private collection. They raided the place and TA DA there were the paintings.

Before the paintings go back home to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the museum is allowing a brief special (and heavily guarded) public showing in Naples. If you want to see them in Italy, act fast because the special display ends on February 26.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art: A Review

Too much art for just one visit!

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is probably is the only museum in the world that is more famous for its steps than for any of the magnificent pieces inside. These are the steps that Sylvester Stallone made famous in the Rocky movies. On any day of the year, you can watch tourists from all over the world race up the steps and dance about in homage to Rocky Balboa.

But if you actually go inside the building, you will have your breath taken away just as much as a foolish sprint up the steps.

More Than One Day's Worth

This writer's favorite painting in the world happens to reside in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I would have missed it if I hadn't been lucky enough to have been born in raised in the greater Philadelphia area. The museum is incredibly vast. You cannot expect to "do" the Museum in just one day. That would not only do the works of art an injustice, but you will get a bad headache from the sensory overload and the stress of trying to see it all.

The best way to explore the museum is to have a map of it and then focusing on the art styles that most excite you. If you are going to the museum and don't live in the greater Philly area, then chances are you are coming for one of the magnificent exhibitions which often take place. The Philadelphia Museum of art is often the only East Coast choice for many priceless tours. If you are coming for a special exhibition, just go to the exhibition and don't worry about seeing anything else.


Famous Paintings

Although the Philadelphia Museum of Art is home to some of the world's most famous paintings, my favorite was painted by local boy Thomas Eakins. Even though I had been to the museum many times as a child, I somehow missed this massive painting, which is so realistic, it's almost a photograph. It's called Fairman Rogers Four In Hand (A May Morning in the Park).

Other famous paintings with a permanent home in Philadelphia are Eakins' more famous painting, "The Gross Clinic"; "Interior" by Edgar Degas (also known as "The Rape"); Duchamp's "Nude Descending a Staircase"; Monet's "Japanese Footbridge and Lily Pool"; Cezanne's "The Large Brothers"; Picasso's "Three Musicians" and the most famous version of Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" (my favorite Van Gogh.) The Impressionist Gallery alone is worth the admission price (which is about $20 but does not include admission to special exhibitions.)

Overwhelming

When you get overwhelmed by a painting and turn to walk away, you almost feel as if you have been shoved into a pool of icy water, because the real world comes at you like a shock.  This is if you’re lucky enough to get an unobstructed view.  The Philadelphia Museum of Art often draws huge crowds and throngs of schoolchildren – even on weekdays.  Get used to dodging wheelchairs and weaving around toes.

Eventually, all of the art becomes a blur.  At this point, head for the snack bar and try to get back to earth.  It can be quite difficult to get out of the parking lot and then deal with Philly traffic, so you need to be able to concentrate. 

Poem: Van Gogh

Painful

This way of seeing --

All the world

Thick with color, thin with time

Moving moving moving

The thoughts in the head in the eyes in the throat

Down down down

On the surface of forever

Vincent van GoghPainting, Oil on Canvas on Triplex Board
Paris: Winter, 1887 - 88

Check out the Van Gogh Gallery for more