In brief
In a shocking admission, the Maashorst municipality in the Netherlands has reported that 46 artworks, including a significant Andy Warhol print depicting former Queen Beatrix, have likely been thrown away during renovation efforts. The mayor expressed regret over the apparent lack of care, as the artworks, valued at approximately €22,000, were improperly stored and possibly discarded with trash. An investigation into the mishap found that guidelines for proper handling and storage were absent, leading to the artwork’s unfortunate fate during the renovation of the Uden town hall.
During renovations last year, the Maashorst municipality discovered that 46 pieces of art, including a 1980s silkscreen print of Queen Beatrix by Andy Warhol, had “most likely” been discarded. The Mayor, Hans van der Pas, spoke to public broadcaster Omroep Brabant, acknowledging that such negligence towards valuable art is regrettable. According to an investigative report, the artworks were stored in a basement, where inadequate storage practices led to their disappearance. The municipality confirmed that the artworks, which collectively held a value of around €22,000, were likely taken away along with trash during the renovation process.The report detailed that many works, including the Warhol print, were stored in wheelie bins without due care, and the lack of documented ownership or policies contributed to the issue. Local media highlighted that the regrettable incident reflects poorly on the municipality's management of cultural assets. The Queen Beatrix print is part of Warhol's renowned Reigning Queens series, created in 1985 and featuring multiple monarchs. Notably, this isn't the first time Warhol's works related to Queen Beatrix have been embroiled in controversy; in November, prints of her and another monarch were stolen during a heist at a Dutch art gallery but were later discarded by the thieves as they fled. The Maashorst municipality, however, has stated it is unlikely that the mistakenly disposed artworks will ever be recovered.
