'Michelangelo' stolen from church days before experts were to authenticate it

Thieves stole a 16th century artwork from a church, just days before it was examined by art experts to see if it was Belgium’s only painting by Michelangelo.

The painting of the Holy Family had lain undisturbed and largely forgotten in St Ludgerus church in the small Flemish town of Zele for the last 16 years after it was donated by a parishioner.

The painting was thought to be worth 10,000 Euros but the church was not protected by any burglar alarms. It had lain in a dark corner of the church until it was noticed an given a more prominent position by pastor Jan Van Raemdonck.

Suspicions have been raised that the burglary was no coincidence. Mr Van Raemdonck said his potential discovery was a secret but added he had told the church council because he wanted approval for extra security measures. The chairman of the council told Het Nieuwsblad that the council had opted to restore the church tower rather than install burglar alarms ...

The East Flanders public prosecutor’s office said the church was broken into through the sacristy between 5am and 6am on Friday. A witness has described a man of between 17 and 20-years-old, wearing dark clothes and a hood and carrying a backpack.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/14/michelangelo-stolen-church-days-experts-authenticate/