Man arrested in relation to Groninger Museum Van Gogh theft

By Thomas Ansell

Dutch police have confirmed that a 58 year old man was arrested this morning in relation to the theft of the Groninger museums’ Van Gogh ‘Spring Garden, the parsonage garden at Neunen’ from 1884. The painting was stolen from the Singer Laren museum last year on March 30 (also Van Gogh’s birthday).

It is thought that the man stole the painting, along with a work by Frans Hals (‘two laughing boys’), however neither work was found at his home.

A Dutch art detective, Arthur Brand, has variously claimed that the Van Gogh is now owned by a Dutch drug kingpin, who hopes to trade it for a reduced prison sentence.