Margaret Keane (American, 1927). Eyes Upon You, 1971. oil on canvas.
“Heritage Auctions, HA.com
Stolen Margaret Keane painting recovered after 50 years
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Merideth Bucher
“Heritage Auctions, HA.com
Margaret Keane (American, 1927). Eyes Upon You, 1971. oil on canvas.
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Airdate: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Artist Margaret Keane enjoys great fame around the world for her works featuring subjects with large eyes, a style that ignited a movement and earned great commercial success.
Fifty years ago, one of Keane’s paintings was stolen from the lobby of a Dentist who commissioned the piece. The painting is titled “Eyes Upon You” and while the theft was investigated and reported in the media, it was never recovered.
That is until the original owner’s family discovered the painting recently sold through an auction house. The family contacted retired FBI agent Robert K. Wittman, an art security specialist for his help and were finally able to recover the painting with the assistance of the Heritage Auctions.
Robert Wittman appears on Smart Talk Tuesday to share the story of the stolen painting and the efforts to return the property to the rightful owners.
