[MSN] Who Transported the Goya?

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

November 20, 2006
Who Transported the Goya?
The detailed article in Saturday's NY Times on the theft of Goya's "Children
With a Cart" from a truck that was transporting it from the Toledo Museum in
Ohio to the Guggenheim Museum in New York discusses important questions
raised by law enforcement officials, who spoke to reporter David Johnston
"on condition of anonymity." The painting was en route to the Guggenheim's
Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso.

F.B.I. investigators have been looking into why a truck bearing such
precious cargo was left unattended and why it stopped at a motel overnight,
when the trip could have been easily made in one day.

But the article implicitly raises two other important questions, both
unanswered: First, why did the unnamed law enforcement officials leak so
much sensitive information to the newspaper when, according to Johnston's
own account, "the F.B.I. office in Philadelphia, which is in charge of the
investigation, has released few details about the case, hoping to use
information about the theft to evaluate any tips." (Johnston's piece
originated in Washington, not Philadelphia.) Has the Times piece now
compromised this investigation?

And the second unanswered question, of crucial importance to the artworld:
What shipping company was involved in this debacle? Clearly anyone in need
of art transport has a keen interest in knowing the answer. But although
they divulged a surprising number of details to Johnston, "law enforcement
authorities did not identify the shipper." 

Paradoxically, Johnston wrote a piece just two weeks ago about concerns over
news leaks of confidential information from F.B.I. investigations:

Director Robert S. Mueller III of the F.B.I. has issued a stern message to
the bureau's nearly 30,000 employees warning them against leaks of
confidential information after recent news articles disclosed criminal
inquiries involving incumbent lawmakers, mainly House Republicans.

''There have been a number of recent stories in the press attributing
sensitive law enforcement information to 'federal law enforcement
officials,''' Mr. Mueller said in an Oct. 26 e-mail message. ''While I
cannot say they have come from F.B.I. employees, such disclosures do serious
damage to our investigations and risk unfairly tarnishing the subjects of
our investigations who enjoy the presumption of innocence.''

Also sadly damaged in this unfortunate episode is the reputation of museums
for safely borrowing and returning valuable works owned and cherished by
others.