A Good Telephone Call from the FBI

A few of our past blog posts were about stolen art and some of the more advanced technologies used in the forensic study of fine art. At our last Good, Better, Best Appraiser Workshop one of the items Jane and I discussed was a painting stolen from my shop, a recovery by the FBI, the impressive and detailed analysis of the painting by the National Gallery of Art Painting Conservation Dept (at the request of the FBI), and the subsequent return of the painting to my shop.

A little background first, about 6 years ago there was a lady who was visiting many of the Old Town Alexandria art and antiques galleries and stealing small decorative items and small paintings. She was a real pro and knew what she was doing and how to divert sales attention. I believe she also stole from my shop another small painting and a pair of sterling 19th century candlesticks. She was later caught, but most of the property was never recovered.

After I noticed the painting by Louis Claude Mouchot (French 1830-1891) was no longer on my wall, I called the Alexandria police department and filled a report, giving a description of the painting and a digital image. I figured it was a lost cause and I would never see the painting I called "Ancient Ruins" again.

In early May I get a telephone call from a special agent of the FBI. I am not sure if anyone likes hearing on the other end of the phone this is special agent (insert name) from the FBI, but in this case he was calling to inform me of the recovery of the Louis Claude Mouchot. I did not get many particulars from the agent over the phone, but he asked if I could provide some additional proof of ownership, which I did, with my original purchase invoice, image and a reprint of a price ticket. He soon visited my shop with the painting nicely packaged along with a full Summary of Examination Report from the National Gallery of Art. It turns out the painting was stored for a while in a self storage locker facility, and the contents of the locker were auctioned for non-payment. The person who purchased the contents including the Mouchot oil resold property through yard sales and auctions. A couple purchased the painting for under a $100.00 and went home to research. They searched the web and found the FBI site with the Moucot listed as stolen. It is still listed on th web as being stolen, click HERE to see the FBI web notice. The couple who purchase the painting turned it in to the FBI and then it went to the NGA and back to me, the rightful owner.

I have posted the full NGA report online as a PDF, to read and view click HERE. I was surprised that for my small 19th century painting, although pleasant but of little note or consequence the FBI would have gone to the trouble of submitting for examination by the NGA. The special agent said the FBI wanted to ensure the painting was properly described and it was not a fake or forgery. It makes sense if the recovered property is valuable and it is going back to market.

The NGA examination included historical background, the construct of the painting (paper laid on board in this case), infrared reflectograph imaging to view under the paint layers, photomacrographs (60x magnification), a full condition report, and X-ray fluorescence with graphs to determine pigment elements and possible age.

Collectors always love a story, and now my Louis Claude Mouchot has a very interesting background. So don't always fret when the phone rings and they say its the FBI, it may be a good thing, yes, a very good thing indeed.

For the FBI Art Theft web page click HERE.
The following is from the FBI Art Theft web page and includes some links posted by the Art Crime Team.

Art and cultural property crime - which includes theft, fraud, looting, and trafficking across state and international lines -- is a looming criminal enterprise with estimated losses running as high as $6 billion annually.

To recover these precious pieces--and to bring these criminals to justice--the FBI uses a dedicated Art Crime Team of 13 Special Agents to investigate, supported by three Special Trial Attorneys for prosecutions...and it mans the National Stolen Art File, a computerized index of reported stolen art and cultural properties for the use of law enforcement agencies across the world.