A Masterpiece of Sorts

The stealing of art has become such a popular pastime with the highbrow underworld that it has also become--as news, at least--a bit of a bore. But last week's heist from the respected O'Hana Gallery in London was the biggest in British history. Gone from the gallery's choice "Summer Exhibition" were 35 paintings, including works from the recently sold Sir Alexander Korda collection, Renoir's magnificent Andree Assise from the Somerset Maugham collection, and the well-known Tilling the Vineyard, by Toulouse-Lautrec. The market value of the haul was estimated at about $1,200,000, and the thieves were obviously connoisseurs. They not only took the best; they also knew which paintings were too delicate to be cut from their frames and would have to be taken frame and all. Said one insurance assessor working on the case: "I would call this a masterpiece of crime."

Scotland Yard put all harbors and airports on the alert, but it did so with a suggestion of quiet desperation. After all, Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington, stolen from the National Gallery eleven months ago, has yet to be found.

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