Renoir, however, was not very reality, but still small. The thing is not high prices. Nevertheless, three dude why-то blatantly was surrounded by the Austrian auction house "Dorotheum"

At the Vienna Dorotheum, in the opinion of knowledgeable people, so-so security and the exits are too easy to waste criminals. But video cameras are not bad. On the record the visible face the alleged thieves. Before they organized up to the second floor of the auction house, confidently took the frame off, put it in the package (where the size of-то was 27 x 40), were as follows. Prey of criminals became oil "the Bay, the sea, the green hills" in 1895 with a valuation of $136 000 – 182 000. It was supposed to sell yesterday at auction. But no luck.

the Commentators as usual in such cases, pushing for a version that Renoir was stolen for sale on the black market is unknown. We, in turn, believe these versions are the least likely. Black market art – if not a complete fiction, it is pretty mythologized site. Underground collector with an underground vault, enjoying the stolen treasure is what-то of the cinematic genre. In real life to sell a stolen painting and not to get caught in what-то stage is too hard. High-profile abductions are not always for sale. Sometimes it happens out of stupidity (seen enough movies and go), sometimes as humiliation or punishment of the owner (for earnest collectors is tantamount to torture), sometimes for the sake of a ransom note (remember, like stealing Munch?). Sometimes for fraud with the insurance. Here, too, can be anything. For example, revenge of the auction house (for the sake of the cause reputational damage) or compromise security. Okay, what is there to fantasize. Given that these boobies have been caught in the camera lenses and the fact that it takes place in the heart of Europe, soon all will. Probably.

Vladimir Bogdanov, AI

: Bloomberg.com

What else to read on the subject:
the Three stooges and Renoir
the Interpol Database on stolen works of art