Robbed Swiss Museum to Reopen with Higher Security
June 27th, 2008 Posted in Press Room
- All security measures reviewed and improved
- For the time being, only group visits are permitted by appointment
- Interest received from all over the world about the reopening
Zurich (Switzerland), June 27, 2008 – The reopening of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection is expected before the end of the summer 2008. After the armed robbery on February 10, 2008 the museum was closed and all security measures were thoroughly reviewed. The security procedures for both visitors and the Collection have now been improved and refined.
Preparations for the reopening have begun. It is planned to do this in two phases. At first, only groups shall be granted access to the facilities, after registering at least six weeks in advance and by identifying each member individually. Individual visitors will be able to enter the museum at a later stage.
Lukas Gloor, Director of the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection, comments: “With the new security measures we look forward to reopening the Collection to the public soon. We receive requests from all over the world on a daily basis, with all asking when the museum will be reopened. Naturally we are eager to show our collection to visitors again.” Gloor adds: “We hope that we can announce the date of the reopening close to midyear.”
The two retrieved paintings, “Blossoming Chestnut Branches” by Vincent Van Gogh and “Poppies near Véteuil” by Claude Monet, will be again on display.
About E.G. Bührle Collection (www.buehrle.ch)
The E.G. Bührle Collection in Zurich, Switzerland is one of the world’s finest private collections featuring French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism paintings. The central theme of the collection is the gradual evolution of a new artistic freedom with Impressionism being the driving force behind Modernist painting in the 20th century. Emil Bührle (1890-1956) acquired his pictures and sculptures primarily between 1951 and 1956. In 1960, the collector’s family donated a representative selection of about 200 pieces to the Foundation E.G. Bührle Collection and opened it to the public. The Foundation museum is housed in a villa adjoining Emil Bührle’s former home, in which he stored part of his collection during his lifetime.
Remarks to editors
Please note that representatives of the E.G. Bührle Collection cannot comment on the police investigations related to the armed robbery of 10 February 2008. Investigations are being conducted by the Police Department of the Canton of Zurich.
Downloadable paintings
A selection of paintings from the E.G. Bührle Collection are downloadable in high resolution from www.weber-thedy.com/buehrle.
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