Mystery in Manhattan
July 6, 2012
NEW YORK—Adam Lindemann describes the events surrounding a recent theft from his gallery as “quite surreal”—an apt description, considering the work stolen was a Salvador Dali drawing. Dali’s “Cartel de Don Juan Tenorio,” a 1959 sketch valued at $150,000, was mounted near paintings by Henry Fuseli, Andy Warhol, and Odilon Redon in an exhibition inspired by the 19th century French novel “À Rebours.” The show is the inaugural exhibition presented by Lindemann’s new gallery, Venus Over Manhattan.
“What do you do with a stolen drawing by Dalí?,” Lindemann asked shortly after the crime. Indeed, with the market value of art so closely linked to its authentication and documented provenance, stolen art can be nearly impossible to sell.
Perhaps recognizing the futility of any resale attempt, the Dali thief returned the drawing to Venus Over Manhattan this Friday, complete with a certified Express Mail tracking number. Detectives collected the drawing from inspection services at JFK airport.
Image via The New York Times

