Three 'very high value' Baroque paintings stolen from Oxford University gallery in midnight raid

Police were seen investigating on the roof of the gallery
Collect
Tim Baker15 March 2020
WEST END FINAL

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Three historic paintings of “very high value” have been stolen from an Oxford University gallery in a night-time raid.

Thames Valley Police are searching for clues to find any information that could lead to the discovery of the missing pieces.

All of the paintings are from the Baroque era, dating back to the late 16th Century.

They have been taken from the Christ Church Picture Gallery in Oxford, part of the college of the same name and home to hundreds of pieces.

Police say that the offenders broke into the gallery around 11pm on Saturday evening. No-one was injured in the heist, and no more information has been given.

Thames Valley Police

The masterpieces stolen are: Salvator Roas’s A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan from the late 1640s, Antony Van Dyck’s A Soldier on Horseback from around 1616, and Annibale Carracci’s A Boy Drinking from around 1580.

All three pieces are oil paintings on canvas.

Antony Van Dyck’s “A Soldier on Horseback”
Thames Valley Police

The Carracci and van Dyck were given to the gallery in 1765 by General John Guise, while the Roas was passed to the gallery in 1966 by Sir Richard Nosworthy.

A statement from the college said it would remain closed for the time being.

 Annibale Carracci’s A Boy Drinking
Thames Valley Police

A statement from Christ Church college said: "​At around 11pm on Saturday 14 March, there was a break-in at Christ Church Picture Gallery,” the college said.

“The perpetrators proceeded to take three valuable works of art.

“Christ Church staff alerted the police, who immediately attended the scene in order to gather evidence."

In 1765, General John Guise bequeathed his collection of more than 200 paintings and almost 2,000 drawings to his former college Christ Church.

Police could be seen looking at picture frames on the roof of the gallery (Collect)

This enabled the college to introduce art into Oxford education without the need to travel to Italy or visit stately homes, which at that point held the majority of art collections in the UK.

A number of subsequent gifts and bequests of paintings has meant the Christ Church Picture Gallery has grown to 300 paintings and almost 2,000 drawings.

The purpose-built gallery that houses the collection was designed by the architects Powell and Moya and was opened by the Queen in 1968.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Jon Capps, said: “The paintings which have been stolen are very high value pieces dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

“The artwork has not yet been recovered but a thorough investigation is underway to find it and bring those responsible to justice.

“There will be an increased police presence in the area while officers and staff carry out enquiries.

“If you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area last night, please get in touch.”

Information can be reported to Thames Valley Police on 101 using reference number 43200087031.

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