Cold case about “Bacon’s head”: NDR podcast “Kunstverkrimi” asks for information from the public | NDR.de – The NDR – Press

36 years ago, the famous painting “Portrait of Francis Bacon” by Lucian Freud was stolen under mysterious circumstances from the “Neue Nationalgalerie” in Berlin. The painting tells the story of the intense artistic friendship between Bacon and Freud and is considered an immeasurable art treasure of the United Kingdom and the entire art world. And it remains missing – to this day.

In the current season of the NDR Kultur podcast “Kunstverkrimi” the two presenters Lenore Lötsch and Torben Steenbuck trace their search for the painting. They speak to a suspect, are on the trail of the supposedly most important witness and exchange information with Detective Inspector René Allonge about his historical investigations into the case, who is still pursuing the case today. But despite important clues and new people to talk to, there is no definitive clue as to the whereabouts of the art treasure. Until now!

Now listeners are asked: Where is “Bacon’s head”?

In the season finale of “Art Crimes – The Search for Bacon’s Head”, which will be released on September 10th in the ARD Audiothek, the hosts once again summarize all the historical clues, traces and theories about the fall of the painting: Can listeners provide new evidence about the stolen painting based on this information?

The Kunstverkrimi team is not only relying on the attention of listeners, but also on the “visual memory” of Germans. Who has ever seen the picture, whether in a dusty attic or on the wall above fine sofas?

The Kunstverbrechen team is now happy to accept tips at [email protected]. Of course, listeners can also contact the police with information.

All episodes of the podcast can now be heard in the ARD Audiothek and wherever podcasts are available. Art Crime – True Crime meets Culture · Podcast in the ARD Audiothek

Note: The podcast hosts will be available for interviews through Friday, September 13th.

The podcast cover and photos of the host are available for download at www.ardfoto.de.

About the podcast – True Crime without bloodshed

The third season of Art Crime follows the oldest and still unsolved cold case of Detective Inspector René Allonge, the theft of a painting by Lucian Freud, which shows his friend, the painter Francis Bacon. It was stolen in 1988 from the New National Gallery in Berlin. It is a quick, perfect crime, as no trace was left behind during the theft. And: Although the painting was stolen in broad daylight, no one saw the death in the act.

For Andrea Rose, the curator of the exhibition at the time, it was one of the worst experiences of her life and she has been searching for the painting ever since it was stolen. It remained missing for more than 35 years, but there is a hot lead: a witness, a suspect and a lot of question marks. The Art Crime hosts are given exclusive insights into the police files on that fall. Many of the leads in the story lead to dead ends, important witnesses are unwilling to talk or have already died and it becomes clear that the search may not be without danger. But the case does not let the team go.

The art crime hosts take listeners on an exciting research journey between Berlin, London, Hamburg and other places. The case shows what happens behind the scenes of an international art theft and how it can still hurt those involved even decades later.

10 September/ ASR

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