The Facts
On January 24, 2023, Kunsthaus Zürich announced that two Old Master paintings have gone missing and that police are investigating. The works — "Soldaten im Lager" (Soldiers in Camp) by Robert van den Hoecke (mid-17th century, 18.8 x 24.7 cm) and "Narzissen und andere Blumen in Glasvase auf einer Marmorplatte" (Narcissi and Other Flowers in Glass Vase on a Marble Slab) by Dirck de Bray (1673, 30.9 x 23.5 cm) — are private permanent loans. Both are small-format oil-on-oak panels, framed and glazed. The museum removed them along with over 700 other works after a fire on the night of August 2–3 (presumably 2022) for cleaning and restoration; they have been untraceable since early 2023. Internal searches failed, and on January 13 the museum filed a criminal complaint. The works have been entered into the Art Loss Register.
The Signal
The incident underscores the vulnerability of Old Master works on loan to public institutions. Kunsthaus Zürich relies heavily on private loans and gifts, which account for nearly three-quarters of its painting and sculpture holdings. The museum has set up a crisis team to review procedures, and director Ann Demeester emphasized that learning from the loss is a priority. For collectors and curators, the case highlights the importance of rigorous inventory tracking and prompt reporting to databases such as the Art Loss Register, which serve as critical tools for recovering stolen or missing art.
- Artists: Robert van den Hoecke, Dirck de Bray
- People: Ann Demeester, Björn Quellenberg
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich
- Locations: Zürich
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