The Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands has confirmed that 46 artworks, including a 1980s Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix valued at approximately €15,000, were likely discarded during renovation work. An investigation reveals a lack of proper storage protocols contributed to this unfortunate mishap.
Dutch Town Hall Confirms Loss of Andy Warhol Artwork Amid Renovations
Dutch Town Hall Confirms Loss of Andy Warhol Artwork Amid Renovations
A Dutch municipality has acknowledged the accidental disposal of 46 artworks, including a valuable Warhol print, during town hall renovations.
A Dutch town hall has revealed that it "most likely" disposed of 46 artworks, which include a notable Andy Warhol print of Queen Beatrix, amid renovation activities last year. The Maashorst municipality, which encompasses the area, acknowledged that a 1980s silkscreen print of the former Dutch queen, worth roughly €15,000 (£12,800), was lost during the renovations of its town hall in Uden.
According to investigations, the artworks were temporarily stored in a basement and subsequently treated with inadequate care, leading to their unexpected disappearance. Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret over the incident, stating, "That's not how you treat valuables. But it happened. We regret that."
A formal statement released by the municipality indicated that the artworks were likely taken away as trash during the renovation process. Investigative reports detailed that some pieces had been improperly stored in wheelie bins, leading to monumental oversight regarding their preservation. The inquiry has pointed out that a lack of established ownership, proper guidelines for storage, and insufficient action upon realizing the pieces were missing played significant roles in this unfortunate event.
Local media estimates the total value of the 46 artworks could amount to around €22,000 (£18,800), and the municipality has expressed doubts about the recovery of any of the lost pieces. Queen Beatrix, who reigned from 1980 until her abdication in 2013, was a subject of Warhol's renowned series, Reigning Queens, which features prints of four monarchs. Warhol created these iconic images in 1985, and his legacy as a pivotal artist of the 20th Century remains unquestioned.
In a related incident, in November of the previous year, Warhol prints of Queen Beatrix and another monarch, Queen Ntombi Twala of Eswatini, were also stolen in a Dutch art gallery heist. The thieves abandoned these pieces later, as they did not fit their getaway vehicle, as reported by local authorities at the time.
