[CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT ★★]
FRANCIS BACON PAINTINGS STOLEN FROM MADRID HOME
(P1) Five paintings by British artist Francis Bacon worth an ESTIMATED €30m (£23.2m) have been stolen from the Madrid home of their owner.
(P2) The theft appeared to have been a highly professional operation which took place while the owner was away, with the PERPETRATORS DISABLING the alarm system.
(P3) The thieves had tracked the owner’s movements to ensure he did not return to his home to CATCH THEM RED-HANDED.
(P4) The works were stolen last June. It was not immediately clear why news of the theft was not made public until now.
(P5) It was also unclear exactly which paintings were involved but one contemporary art specialist told the paper they would be extremely difficult to sell.
(P6) “It is not easy to sell a Francis Bacon painting without experts becoming aware of it,” said the art specialist.
(P7) Police from a specialist arts and antiques theft unit have opened an investigation into the HEIST.
(P8) The owner of the paintings was a close friend of Bacon.
(P9) Irish-born Bacon died in Madrid in 1992, aged 82, and his EXPRESSIONIST–SURREALIST works are among the most SOUGHT AFTER and VALUABLE of modern paintings.
WORDS: 191
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- Art theft is a huge branch of international crime. Does this surprise you?
- Have you ever purchased an original work of art?
- Do you have a favorite painting?
- Do you prefer modern art or classic art?
EXPRESSIONS TO PRACTICE:
What do the following expressions mean? Practice using each expression in a sentence; extra points if you can use it in conversation.
- Catch red-handed
- Sought after
