Museums · Observations · Heritage · Society · Paris

One of the Louvre robbers is reported to be 39-year-old Abdoulaye N., known on social media as Doudou Cross Bitume, chiefly for his acrobatic stunts, amateur musical performances and participation in motocross

So the theses that the "professionals" of "organised crime" were "very well prepared" collapse, and give way to the picture of a gang of suburban toughs, apparently of North African origin, who belonged to no special "elite" criminal fraternity of museum thieves

NB! · Archive · Mores · Paris

A Child Walks a Little Dog in Montmartre in 1904

Architecture · Faith · Art · Observations · Heritage · Society · Paris · Rome

Review of the month from Serebrennikov's “Hamlet” to the robberies of French museums

For those who skipped a great many lessons, let me remind you that we began October with an introductory course in alchemy, and then spoke. 📌 about works of art stolen by the Nazis 📌 about the fate of Pompeii after the eruption of Vesuvius 📌 about why one should not refuse Donald

A pale stone facade with two tall windows, the lower sash of the left one open and silhouettes of people visible in the dark opening.

NB! · Observations · Heritage · Paris · Humour

Open windows that the author of the post calls the most famous in the world

At the moment, these are the most famous windows in the world. And they are open. Presumably they have decided to seal them for the winter, or at the very most to give them a wash.

Museums · Observations · Heritage · Society · Paris · Humour

Letter signed by 57 people over a theft and the director’s salary of 15,000 euros a month

The director is not coping, but do not worry: a letter has already been written on her behalf. Signed by colleagues, relatives, friends, and grandmother's dog. Fifty-seven people in all. Who they are hardly matters. What matters is that there are many of them. It is a

Archive · Art · Museums · Heritage · Paris

The “Mona Lisa” Returns to the Louvre Two Years After the Theft, 1914

The painting was stolen on 21 August 1911 by an Italian, Vincenzo Peruggia, an employee of the Louvre. On 12 December 1913 it was found in Florence

Art · Society · Paris

German police dismantle international ring selling forgeries of Rembrandt, Picasso and Kahlo

German Police Uncover Ring of Forged-Masterpiece Dealers. German police have announced the dismantling of an international gang that sold fake paintings for millions of dollars. The fraudsters passed off forgeries as works by Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo. According to the police, the alleged organiser is a 77-

Observations · Heritage · Paris · Humour

The Louvre robbery and the jewellery collection of French Culture Minister Rachida Dati

You know, I have always been fascinated by curious coincidences. Take, for instance, the robbery of the Louvre. Grand, bold, sweeping in scale! In places even funny, and tragicomic. They made off with the most precious treasures, bedecked with all manner of diamonds and sapphires. And France's Minister

Observations · Heritage · Society · Paris · Humour

Did one of the Louvre robbers lose a Russian passport?

It won't get any funnier than this. After the Minister of Culture praised the Director of the Louvre, and the Director of the Louvre praised the head of security, who, pray, can possibly be to blame for the robbery, if not the Russians? Certainly not some gang of

Art · Observations · Paris · Reportage

Art Basel Paris 2025 at the Grand Palais brought together over 200 galleries from 41 countries

Art Basel Week in Paris was so packed that only now am I taking stock. The fair ran from 24 to 26 October at the Grand Palais and neighbouring venues, gathering more than 200 galleries from 41 countries, with a fairly extensive parallel programme. Among the participants were the leading

Art · Paris

Modigliani sells for 27 million euros and Magritte for 10.7 million at Sotheby’s in Paris

Sotheby’s capitalise on the excitement of Art Basel Paris week and set a French sales record at their Surrealist and Modern art auctions. The most expensive lot was Amedeo Modigliani’s “Elvira. Bust” of 1918–19, sold for €27 million. This is a record price in France for a

A wooden gate with a yellow marker on its post stands alone in a grassy field with no fence, trees in the distance.

Museums · Heritage · Society · Paris

Photograph of a lone gate in a field with a caption about a museum security system

President-Directress of the Louvre: The Museum's Security System Worked to Perfection. The museum's security system: