Goya Work Recovered

From the "that was quick" department: the FBI announced on Monday, November 20, 2006 that it had recovered Francisco de Goya's (1746-1828) Children with a Cart (1778), stolen the previous week while being transported from Ohio to New York City. The painting was taken from a parked vehicle at a motel near Scranton, Pennsylvania where art handlers were spending the night. Rumors have since swirled claiming that the heist was everything from an "inside job" to basic breaking and entering by youths in search of a Playstation 3. Beyond saying that the painting was recovered in New Jersey, authorities are keeping mum on further details as the investigation continues.

The painting is headed straight back to the Toledo Art Museum, and will not be a late inclusion in the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's special exhibition Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth, and History as previously planned. Before it was stolen. (Understandably mitigating circumstances, you must admit.)

There's been no word about reward money and may never be, but two things are certain. First, it's never a bad idea to publicize a high-profile art theft. Widespread news coverage seems to be quite helpful in the grand scheme of Recovering Things. And second, while the only business entity made public thus far is the hapless HoJo's (Howard Johnson Inn) where the theft occurred, you can safely bet that the name of the art transporting company is already circulating in the museum pipeline. Whether or not it will be held culpable, the company's future prospects are looking a bit gloomy at this time.

For further reading:

• FBI recovers stolen Goya painting after tip-offs (Reuters)
• "Typical New Jersey Cargo Theft" (Gothamist)
• FBI Press Release (.pdf file)