A Dutch municipality has acknowledged that it "most likely" discarded 46 artworks during renovation works at a town hall, including a significant Andy Warhol print of former Queen Beatrix. The Maashorst municipality reported that these artworks disappeared while they were improperly stored in a basement during renovations last year. Among the lost items is a silkscreen print of Queen Beatrix from the 1980s, valued at approximately €15,000 (£12,800).
Investigation findings indicated that the artworks may have been disposed of alongside trash due to a lack of proper storage guidelines. Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret, noting, "That's not how you treat valuables." The municipality stated that the artworks were improperly organized during the renovation of a town hall in Uden, which is transitioning into the newly formed Maashorst municipality.
A detailed report highlighted that some artworks were unsafely stored in wheelie bins and lacked proper handling. It was also stated that there were no established ownership protocols or procedures during the renovation, which contributed to the incident. The total estimated worth of the mismanaged artworks is around €22,000 (£18,800), and authorities believe they are unlikely to be recovered.
Queen Beatrix reigned from 1980 to 2013, and her Warhol print formed part of his renowned series, Reigning Queens, which features other royal figures, including the late British Queen Elizabeth II. Warhol, hailed as a leading artist of the 20th century, created these prints in 1985. This incident follows another theft earlier this year, where Warhol prints were stolen from a Dutch gallery; however, these particular prints were later abandoned due to size constraints.
Investigation findings indicated that the artworks may have been disposed of alongside trash due to a lack of proper storage guidelines. Mayor Hans van der Pas expressed regret, noting, "That's not how you treat valuables." The municipality stated that the artworks were improperly organized during the renovation of a town hall in Uden, which is transitioning into the newly formed Maashorst municipality.
A detailed report highlighted that some artworks were unsafely stored in wheelie bins and lacked proper handling. It was also stated that there were no established ownership protocols or procedures during the renovation, which contributed to the incident. The total estimated worth of the mismanaged artworks is around €22,000 (£18,800), and authorities believe they are unlikely to be recovered.
Queen Beatrix reigned from 1980 to 2013, and her Warhol print formed part of his renowned series, Reigning Queens, which features other royal figures, including the late British Queen Elizabeth II. Warhol, hailed as a leading artist of the 20th century, created these prints in 1985. This incident follows another theft earlier this year, where Warhol prints were stolen from a Dutch gallery; however, these particular prints were later abandoned due to size constraints.
