From the Russian state archive, drawings worth millions of dollars were stolen
Moscow - 2000 drawings by Russian architect and artist Yakov Chernikhov, worth millions of dollars, were stolen from the Russian State Archive. Russian media reported this today, citing experts.
According to the cultural heritage protection agency Rosokhrankultura, the drawings of the late architect Chernikhov have disappeared from the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (Rosarchive). The exact number of missing drawings is still unknown, but according to the ITAR-TASS agency, 274 of them have already been discovered in the Russian antiques market. Nine more missing drawings from this collection were reportedly to be sold at an auction at Christie's in London in July. However, the architect's relatives managed to prove that they were from the Rosarchive collection and thus prevented their sale.
It is interesting to note that out of the 3000 works from Chernikhov's private collection, which the state purchased in the 1950s, 80 percent turned out to be forgeries, ITAR-TASS writes.
Chernikhov (1889-1951) was one of the prominent constructivists engaged in industrial architecture during the Soviet Union's period of industrialization.
This is already the second case of a major theft of art objects in Russia in a short time. At the end of July, the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg announced that more than 220 rare exhibits had mysteriously disappeared from its collections, valued at five million dollars (110 million crowns). In this context, the police later arrested three individuals, including the husband and son of the museum curator, who allegedly were involved in the removal of items from the Hermitage over the past six years. The curator died last October right at her workplace when a routine inventory began.
The Hermitage had already experienced a major theft in March 2001, when unknown thieves cut the painting "Pool in the Harem" by French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme from its frame in broad daylight. Although the painting was insured for a million dollars, it was not protected by an alarm system. The painting has not yet been found. The museum is trying to modernize its visitor and staff tracking system but is aware that most items are not well protected.
Recently, an inventory was conducted for only one-third of the 50 million Russian artworks, and only a small fraction of them has been included in an electronic catalog. Approximately 50 to 100 thefts are registered annually in Russian museums. Although direct robberies are now less frequent, the number of cases involving secret removal and sale of exhibits is rising.
Cultural figures today warned that thefts committed by employees of underfunded Russian museums represent a significant problem. They attribute it to a chronic lack of funds flowing from the state treasury, which has significantly dried up since the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
According to the cultural heritage protection agency Rosokhrankultura, the drawings of the late architect Chernikhov have disappeared from the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (Rosarchive). The exact number of missing drawings is still unknown, but according to the ITAR-TASS agency, 274 of them have already been discovered in the Russian antiques market. Nine more missing drawings from this collection were reportedly to be sold at an auction at Christie's in London in July. However, the architect's relatives managed to prove that they were from the Rosarchive collection and thus prevented their sale.
It is interesting to note that out of the 3000 works from Chernikhov's private collection, which the state purchased in the 1950s, 80 percent turned out to be forgeries, ITAR-TASS writes.
Chernikhov (1889-1951) was one of the prominent constructivists engaged in industrial architecture during the Soviet Union's period of industrialization.
This is already the second case of a major theft of art objects in Russia in a short time. At the end of July, the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg announced that more than 220 rare exhibits had mysteriously disappeared from its collections, valued at five million dollars (110 million crowns). In this context, the police later arrested three individuals, including the husband and son of the museum curator, who allegedly were involved in the removal of items from the Hermitage over the past six years. The curator died last October right at her workplace when a routine inventory began.
The Hermitage had already experienced a major theft in March 2001, when unknown thieves cut the painting "Pool in the Harem" by French painter Jean-Léon Gérôme from its frame in broad daylight. Although the painting was insured for a million dollars, it was not protected by an alarm system. The painting has not yet been found. The museum is trying to modernize its visitor and staff tracking system but is aware that most items are not well protected.
Recently, an inventory was conducted for only one-third of the 50 million Russian artworks, and only a small fraction of them has been included in an electronic catalog. Approximately 50 to 100 thefts are registered annually in Russian museums. Although direct robberies are now less frequent, the number of cases involving secret removal and sale of exhibits is rising.
Cultural figures today warned that thefts committed by employees of underfunded Russian museums represent a significant problem. They attribute it to a chronic lack of funds flowing from the state treasury, which has significantly dried up since the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
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