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The Van Gogh painting was stolen on Sunday evening from the Singer museum in Laren, the Netherlands, which is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The artwork featuring the vicarage garden in Nuenen in the spring of 1884, titled 'Spring Garden' was stolen. The museum confirmed the painting was stolen - and was the only work of art targeted.

The burglars entered the museum around 3.15am local time, according to local reports. The artwork was on loan from the Groninger Museum. According to Singer Laren, the security acted "entirely according to protocol".


Van Gogh paintings are extremely popular and highly prized

Museum director Jan Rudolph de Lorm said he is "shocked and incredibly p****d off" following the theft, local reports claim. He said: "This is extremely difficult, especially in these times." READ MORE: Coronavirus breakthrough: 'Elegantly simple' vaccine ready for testing





The post-impressionist painter is one of the most famous artists in the world


It is not yet clear how much the painting is worth, but van Gogh paintings are some of the most prized artworks in the world. Police were called to the scene immediately to investigate the matter before the announcement was made later in the afternoon. The coronavirus outbreak meant the museum had recently been forced to close alongside the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. DON'T MISS:

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Starry Night is another one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings

'Sunflowers' is one of the most well-known paintings by Vincent Van Gogh

This is not the first time Van Gogh's paintings have been targeted. In 2002, View of the Sea at Scheveningen and Congregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen were stolen overnight. The paintings were later put on display after finally being recovered in 2016 in Italy.

Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in the Netherlands. Whilst he painted for many years, he was never commercially successful in his lifetime. After his suicide at the age of 37, van Gogh became well-publicised as a misunderstood genius, and his paintings began to sell for staggering amounts of money. He is one of the most represented artists on the list of most expensive paintings, with his 'Portrait of Dr Gauchet' selling for 82.5 million dollars in 1990 - now equivalent to 161.4 million dollars.

Van Gogh paintings sell for staggering amounts of money