Kunsthaus Zürich Recovers Two Missing Old Master Paintings
The Kunsthaus Zürich has recovered two small-format Old Master paintings missing since early 2023. The works are private long-term loans: Robert van den Hoecke's "Soldaten im Lager" from the mid-17th century measuring 18.8 x 24.7 cm and Dirck de Bray's "Narzissen und andere Blumen in Glasvase auf einer Marmorplatte" from 1673 measuring 30.9 x 23.5 cm. The paintings disappeared during restoration following an August 2022 fire in a technical room of the Müller building. The museum's restoration department confirmed both works remain in good condition after examination.
The Signal
The recovery allows the paintings to return to their original display in the first floor of the Moser building alongside other loans from the same collection. The Cantonal Police and Zurich-Sihl public prosecutor's office continue their investigation. For lenders and institutions, the incident illustrates the risks private collections face during extended building projects and the value of prompt internal protocols when works go missing.
- Artists: Robert van den Hoecke, Dirck de Bray
- People: Ann Demeester, Philipp Hildebrand
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich
- Locations: Zürich
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