A French mayor says an artwork now owned by the pop-star used to belong to the city
The mayor of Amiens in northern France has called on Madonna to lend one of the paintings in her collection to the city, arguing that it could’ve been stolen from there during World War I.
“Madonna, you probably haven’t heard of Amiens… but there is a special link between you and our city,” Brigitte Foure claimed in a video address to the Queen of Pop, which she published on Facebook on Monday.
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The 19th century painting ‘Diana and Endymion,’ believed to be by French artist Jerome-Martin Langlois and now owned by Madonna, “is probably a work that was lent to the Amiens museum by the Louvre before the first World War after which we lost trace of it,” she said.
Foure pointed out that the city’s authorities “don’t dispute in any way the legal acquisition” of the artwork by Madonna. Instead, she wanted the singer to “loan” the painting to Amiens, explaining that it would strengthen a bid by the city of 135,000 to become the European Capital of Culture in 2028.
‘Diana and Endymion’ had been exhibited at one of the museums in Amiens between 1878 and 1918. But it disappeared during the heavy bombardment of the city by the German forces that year and was thought to have been stolen or destroyed.
The painting made headlines again earlier this month after Le Figaro newspaper published an article, suggesting that the artwork in question could’ve actually been be owned by Madonna.