Peasants in an inn by Adriaen van Ostade
This seemingly quiet scene of "Peasants in an Inn" by Adriaen van Ostade holds a dramatic secret: it was once stolen. In 1988, along with two other paintings, it was snatched from the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague.
The painting, created in 1662, is a classic example of Dutch Golden Age genre painting, depicting everyday life with a warm, intimate glow. Van Ostade used dramatic chiaroscuro to highlight the faces and objects, creating a sense of depth and warmth even in a humble tavern setting.
After the theft, the thieves demanded a ransom, but the museum stood firm and refused to pay. For nearly two decades, the painting was missing, its whereabouts unknown. Then, in 2007, a remarkable discovery was made: the painting was found, undamaged, hidden in a bag in a field.
Today, "Peasants in an Inn" is back on display at the Mauritshuis, its story a testament to its enduring value and the lengths to which people will go for art, both good and bad. Have you ever heard of a painting being recovered after such a long time?
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Transcript
In 1988, this painting vanished from a Dutch museum. It was one of three works stolen in a single night. The thieves demanded a ransom for their return. But the museum refused to pay anything. Police searched for years, with no success. Then, in 2007, it resurfaced, almost 20 years later. It was found in a bag, hidden in a field. Unscathed, it returned to its home in The Hague.