Thieves steal £65,000 portrait

A thief dressed in a smart suit talks on his mobile phone while another in cardigan and trousers clutches a designer carrier bag.

Staff at a New Bond Street art dealers carry on their business totally unaware that a rare 19th century work worth £65,000 has been ripped from the wall and is about to disappear in front of their eyes.

These two thieves took just one minute and 20 seconds inside The Fine Art Society gallery to carry out the outrageous raid. Using brute force they wrenched the George Richmond painting, entitled Isaac Going Forth To Meditate At Eventide, from the wall.

Scotland Yard detectives are unsure if the painting, about the size of an A4 piece of paper and in its original frame, was stolen to order. But they suspect the pair have no idea of its value, as they ignored more expensive works.

Police today released CCTV footage of the thieves. Pc Matt Benjafield, who specialises in antiques thefts, said today: "It is not the most sophisticated theft but it has proved effective. The thieves could very well be opportunists trying their luck. It didn't have a price tag and the chances are it was sold on for just a few hundred pounds. Some of these works can turn up at car boot sales and it is only a few years down the line when someone recognises it is worth a lot of money."

Simon Edsor, a Director of The Fine Art Society, said the thieves were lucky because a salesman was taken away from the floor after a genuine customer asked him a question about a painting.

He said today: "We do not know if the thieves had come into the shop to case the joint before but I am quite convinced they knew what they were targeting. It was most unfortunate one of our staff members was away from the area after he was asked a legitimate question, as it must have made a lot of noise when the painting was wrenched from the wall.

"Although rare, this type of theft has happened before. The chances are the painting would have been sold on quite cheaply.

"Works of art can take many years to resurface, as they often find owners who don't realise they have been stolen - and so it is only when they try and sell it on that it becomes clear they have stolen goods.

"George Richmond's works are very rare and this is a hugely typical piece."

Richmond (1809-1896) studied at the Royal Academy and, with William Blake and Samuel Palmer, was one of a group known as the "Ancients". His work is heavily influenced by religion and the Classics. The Oxford Dictionary of Art says "he turned from poetic and religious themes to portraiture and became a great fashionable success. His brother, Thomas Richmond Junior, and his son, Sir William Blake Richmond, were also painters.

" They were principally portraitists but Sir William was also a sculptor and medallist, and painted ambitious Classical scenes."

Police are also investigating the theft of a £25,000 bronze of the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaevich, the commander of the Russian army in the First World war, which was pulled from a window display at Iconastas, Piccadilly Arcade, on 26 October. One thief distracted a member of staff while another forced the lock on the display and fled the shop.

Anyone with information on the raid at The Fine Art Society gallery at 3.30pm on 25 May or the theft of the bronze should contact police on 020 7321 8878 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.