Mio’s stolen paintings, 300.000 USD

11/07/2012 00:00

20 of the 27 paintings that were stolen from the Korce Gallery are
creations of painter Vangjush Mio, painted in the beginning of the 20th
century.

According to specialists and his students, Vangjush Milo is the first modern Albanian painter. Almost every painting of that time was mainly religions and based on the cult. Milo brought a modern spirit, inspired by the Italian painters of that time. He graduated in Bucharest and then at the Royal Academy “San Luca” in Italy.

After returning in Albania, his paintings become property of the state, since the country entered the communist regime. Later he worked and became one of the best Albanian teachers. The investigation for the disappearance of his works started after the gallery director reported to the police.

He reported Sotiraq Xenga, who had declared that in his ten years of work, no physical inventory was ever done.

Besides Mio’s, the gallery misses paintings of other Albanian painters. This is the third time that Mio’s paintings were stolen. In 1990 three paintings disappeared, 21 others in 1994 and now 27 of them. Their value is registered in the ’70, and it’s only 700 ALL, but on today’s market they go from 10.000 to 30.000 USD. The total damage mounts to 300.000 USD.

The stolen pictures

1 Natyra e qete
2 Shtepi ne Boboshtice
3 Vjeshte me 3 vajza
4 Shtepia e Asdrenit
5 Hyrje ne Voskopoje
6 Malet e Moraves
7 Shkembinjte ne Himare
8 Venecia
9 Fshati Mborje
10 Kositesit ne fushe
11 Cadrat e Harixhijve
12 Portret Gruaje
13 Bujku duke leruar
14 Mulliri i Mborjes
15 Duajt ne fushe e male
16 Hyrje ne Korce nga Dishnica
17 Vjeshte ne Bukuresht
18 Maliqi dje
19 Autoportret
20 Rruge ne Tirane
21 Shtepi ne Tirane
22 Rruga e feminise Korce
23 Natyre e qete Fruta
24 Dunaveci
25 Liqeni i Pogradecit
26 Vjeshte me kalimtare
27 Fushe ne Korce