The mayor of Amien in France, Brigitte Foure, has asked to borrow a painting thought to have been stolen from the city’s museum and bought by singer Madonna at an auction in the United States.
Foure shared a video on Facebook, stating that the historical painting Diane et Endymion mysteriously disappeared during the bombing of the Picardie Museum in the city in 1918 during World War I.
“Madonna, you probably don’t know the city of Amiens, where I am honored to be Mayor. But in the past few days, we have realized that there is a special connection between you and our city.” Foure said that they learned that the painting was purchased by Madonna at auction a few years ago.
Foure explained that the painting, painted by Jerome-Martin Langlois (1822), was given by the Luovre Museum in Paris to the Picardie Museum in the city before World War I and that they lost track of the painting during this period.
Madonna bought the painting for 1.3 million dollars
Stating that they know that the missing painting is most likely the one Madonna bought, Foure asked the singer to lend the painting to be exhibited in the city, which will be the European Capital of Culture in 2028.
“We have absolutely no objection to the ownership of this painting, which you acquired legally,” Foure said, noting that they wanted the painting on loan.
The painting, which was purchased by France in 1973, was reportedly bought by Madonna for 1.3 million dollars at an auction held at Sotheby’s in New York in 1989.
Although a criminal complaint was filed with the French authorities in 2015 regarding the theft of the painting, no results have yet been obtained.
