The painting of Willem de Kooning could steal a school teacher?
ARTinvestment.RU   12 сентября 2017

The euphoria about returning to Arizona Museum of paintings de Kooning's "Woman — Ochre" subsided, and on the agenda other questions arose – who stole the painting in 1985? And how she found herself on a ranch in new-Мексико?

For those who missed this big news, briefly about the events of mid-August. The painting of Willem de Kooning, stolen from the Art Museum of the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1985, this summer was accidentally discovered by a dealer in a small village 30 minutes ' drive from silver-Сити, the state of new-Мексико. After ascertaining that he was dealing with stolen masterpiece, the dealer immediately returned it to the great delight of the Museum staff and the public. Exactly in whose house was found a painting by De Kooning – at first was not reported. And this is just the most interesting.

When the antiquary David van Walker came from silver-Сити on a ranch in the village of the cliff to assess the property of the deceased owners, the picture "Woman — Ochre" Willem de Kooning quietly hung in the master bedroom — former school music teacher al Jerome (Jerome Alter) and his wife Rita. And at the open door of the bedroom the picture is completely hid her from prying eyes, but if the door is close, the work of De Kooning could enjoy lying on the bed. Alter the couple built this house after moving from new-Йорка in the state of new-Мексико in the late 1970-х and lived in it until his death Jerome died in 2012, Rita passed away this summer. Both of them at the time of death was 81. Could the couple Alter and be the kidnappers of paintings from the Museum? A simple music teacher from new-йоркской school and his wife, child therapist with years of experience. I know, it sounds crazy. But there are some facts that speak in favor of this particular version.

In the Arizona Museum on the morning of 29 November 1985 went two. According to the memoirs of the guards, it was a woman of about 55-60 in a scarf and sunglasses and a man 25-30 years old with curly hair, a mustache and glasses. Both were dressed in bulky winter jackets, despite the relatively warm day ( 12 degrees Celsius). The woman distracted the guard by the conversation, but this time her accomplice quickly cut a painting by De Kooning from its frame, rolled it up and hid it under his jacket. The two rapidly left the Museum in 10 minutes and went to rusty-красной two-door car.

Mr. and Mrs. Alter, who at the time of the robbery was 54 and 49 years respectively, has a son Joseph, who in 1985 was 23. According to the testimony of a relative, a family friend and the tanker from the gas station in cliff — in the mid-1980-х the Altera was a sporty two-door car brand Nissan red. Son Joseph, who is now 55 years since the mid-1980-х roams the hospitals for the mentally ill. He is now in a psychiatric clinic and comments.

residents of the village, cliff excitedly spitballing about who from the family Alter could commit a robbery. Who-то recognizes the sketch of the woman in a scarf disguised as Mr. al, and a mustachioed young man, a son of Jerome. Others believe that it is rather the woman herself Mrs. Rita Alter, and the accomplice is Mr. Alter. It is not surprising that local residents are ready to believe in the most incredible situation. After allthe story of the discovery of stolen paintings De Kooning was perhaps the major event in the history of the village of cliff, numbering not more than 300 inhabitants.

Altera have relatives who do not share the views of the residents of the cliff. Nephew of Rita Alter Ron Rothman, who called antiquarian silver-Сити for assessment of the property after her death, refuses to believe in the involvement of his aunt and uncle to the robbery. The sister of Mr. al, 81-летняя artist in new-Джерси Carol Sklar, considers this version absurd.

it Is necessary to add to the psychological portrait of the alleged robbers some more detail. Mr. Jerome Alter, despite his humble profession of a school teacher, was a remarkable man. He played the clarinet, and wrote at his own expense published books, traveled a lot. Together with his wife they have traveled to over 140 countries. In explanation of his travels Jerome Alter published in the 2011 book of fictionalized stories. Two of them devoted to the robberies. And although many details differ from the events of 1985, some of the matches look suspicious.

For example, in the story "Eyes of the Jaguar" grandmother and granddaughter is kidnapped 120-каратный emerald from a Museum in the daylight, distracting the guard. "Escaped from the scene undetected, the thieves left absolutely no clues for the police," @ - writes Jerome Alter. The same thing happened in 1985. Investigators left no substantial evidence to begin the search. The history of al ends up with the stolen emerald is stored in a secret place in the house of the grandmother – "a few miles from where these events took place". Painting by De Kooning, too far away from your Museum only-то to the neighboring state. "And only two pairs of eyes now can see", @- writes Jerome Alter about a certain fictional emerald, the edges of which, we imagine quite a real "Woman" by Willem de Kooning.

the Material was prepared by Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources: nytimes.com, artinvestment.ru