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On Sunday, 19 October 2025, masked thieves used a truck-mounted lift and angle grinders to break into the Louvre's Galerie d’Apollon, stealing nine priceless jewels from Napoleon and Empress Marie-Louise’s collection in a heist lasting about seven minutes. One stolen crown was found broken nearby. The museum closed for investigation and reopened three days later with the Apollo Gallery still closed.
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On November 19, 2025, Gustav Klimt's 'Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer' sold at Sotheby's New York for a record $236.4 million, becoming the most expensive modern artwork auctioned. Painted between 1914-1916, the portrait depicts the daughter of Klimt's patrons and survived Nazi looting. The sale was part of the Leonard A. Lauder collection auction, which raised over $527 million.
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As of early December 2025, French authorities have arrested and charged all suspects involved in the October 19 daylight robbery of $102 million worth of French crown jewels from the Louvre. The four-person gang used a freight lift and angle grinders to break into the Apollo Gallery, escaping on scooters. The stolen jewels remain missing, prompting major security upgrades at the museum.
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Recent Sotheby’s auctions have seen a surge in high-value sales, including Frida Kahlo’s record-breaking painting 'El sueño (La cama)' selling for $34.9 million, and Klimt’s portrait of Elisabeth Lederer fetching over $100 million. These sales indicate a recovering art market after a slump, with notable sales of historic and contemporary works.
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Multiple high-profile art sales and exhibitions highlight a renewed interest in historic and contemporary art. A Scottish landscape painting is auctioned to support a Highland museum, while a Renaissance masterpiece by Perugino sells for nearly $750,000. Digital copies of Italian artworks are also gaining popularity among collectors.