Bulgari Celebrates Van Gogh's Masterpieces Homecoming

In 2002, the global art sphere was shocked by the news of two  missing Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces. They were stolen from the Van Gogh museum. 

According to the Van Gogh Museum, the art historical value of the paintings are huge. The Seascape at Scheveningen for instance, is the only painting in the museum’s collection that dates back to Van Gogh’s period in The Hague. 

It is one of two seascape paintings that he painted during his years in the Netherlands.

On the other hand, the Congregation leaving the Reformed Church in Neunen is a small canvas that Van Gogh first painted for his mother in early 1884, portraying the church of the Reformed Church community in the Brabant Village of Nuenen where his father had ministered. 

After his father’s death in 1885, Van Gogh reworked the painting and added the churchgoers in the foreground with few women in shawls worn during mourning times – an allusion to his father’s death. 

Furthermore, the strong biographical tones in the painting gave it a great emotional value, aside being the only Van Gogh’s painting remained in its original stretcher frame.

Last year, the paintings were finally recovered in Naples, Italy, after a massive continuous investigation commissioned by the Italian Public Prosecutions Department. It was conducted by a specialised Guardia di Finanza team that investigates organised crimes. 

Last Thursday, contemporary Italian jeweller and purveyor of luxury lifestyle Bulgari held a special event to celebrate the homecoming of the two masterpieces at the Van Gogh Museum. 

An evening that was peppered with eminent splendour and sparkles, for one night only, guests of Bulgari were treated to the viewing of Van Gogh’s retrieved masterpieces – View of the Sea at Scheveningen and Congregation leaving the Reformed Church at Nuenen.

HRH Princess Marie-Louise zu Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg or Princess Lilly and her daughter Lana Milona graced the splendid soiree whilst other notable attendees include Creative Director of Bulgari Jewellery Lucia Silvestri, Director of Bulgari Watches Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani, Managing Director of Bulgari for Europe, Middle East and Africa Lelio Gavazza, Van Gogh Museum director Axel Rüger, Dutch actress Caroline de Bruijn, actpr Erik de Vogel and Willem van Gogh to name a few. Guests were given an exclusive walkthrough in the museum and later followed by a sumptuous dinner.

*Photos courtesy of Bulgari

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