Vandals Punch Hole in Priceless Monet

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CnKArxH1s7NYeaqKsFuIn5USJq4xZOdzzuvGilaWD-lJN357E97pBxOJpiTb5S3RzxdopJ9Dtiq0u4mfjMUEamytAZfLvNy4ft7JjyR10eZNe1VkGvAKLMeuDGpx6ReXFEV_HD7ltDsP/s1600-h/08monet_lg.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119004666785174898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CnKArxH1s7NYeaqKsFuIn5USJq4xZOdzzuvGilaWD-lJN357E97pBxOJpiTb5S3RzxdopJ9Dtiq0u4mfjMUEamytAZfLvNy4ft7JjyR10eZNe1VkGvAKLMeuDGpx6ReXFEV_HD7ltDsP/s400/08monet_lg.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Above: Monet's "Le Pont D'Argenteuil" , 1874 at the Museé D'Orsay<br />photo by Thibault Camus/Associated Press<br /><p class="storyAttributes"><i>The Associated Press</i></p> <p><!-- dateline -->PARIS<!-- /dateline --> -- Intruders entered the Orsay Museum early Sunday and punched a hole in a renowned work by Impressionist painter Claude Monet, "Le Pont d'Argenteuil,'' the French Culture Minister said.</p> <p>A surveillance camera caught a group entering the museum, located on the Left Bank of the French capital along the Seine River and housing a major collection of Impressionist artists like Monet.</p> <p>An alarm sounded and the group left, but not before damaging the painting, an aide to Culture Minister Christine Albanel said by telephone.</p> <p>No arrests were immediately made.</p> <p>Albanel told France-Info radio that the painting could be restored, but she deplored what she said was an attack on "our memory, our heritage.''</p> <p>"This splendid Monet painting (was) punched right in the middle,'' the minister said with emotion.</p> <p>According to the aide, a 10-centimetre tear was made in the Monet, perhaps with a fist. The official, not authorized to speak publicly of the matter, asked not to be named.</p> <p>It was not immediately clear how many people were in the group that broke into the museum.</p> <p>Monet led the 19th century Impressionist movement, experimenting notably with light and colour in works now deemed priceless.</p> <p>"Le Pont d'Argenteuil'' shows a view of the Seine at a rural bend, featuring a bridge and boats.</p> <p>Albanel told France-Info that she would doubtless seek improved security in museums and stronger sanctions against those who desecrate art. "This is not tolerable,'' she said.</p> <p>The break-in occurred as Paris held its annual all-night festival, which brings thousands of people into the streets for music, exhibits and fun.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaQNNKSo0WR0hfT_a7yVmWfCwKhSFgk41JZSUJahUDwiTpHqroWEvcs6ndZFIwM_BGSssWUxE1CvhXwcCvgVC-CBoBzypoLhOfZzaKCkZ9uCvamOsB1k2D8MZ1wFwYEnbR1RRerxNJSUW/s1600-h/Picture+9.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119004348957594978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibaQNNKSo0WR0hfT_a7yVmWfCwKhSFgk41JZSUJahUDwiTpHqroWEvcs6ndZFIwM_BGSssWUxE1CvhXwcCvgVC-CBoBzypoLhOfZzaKCkZ9uCvamOsB1k2D8MZ1wFwYEnbR1RRerxNJSUW/s400/Picture+9.png" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a></p><p>Above: A nearly 4-inch tear is seen in renowned work by Impressionist painter Claude Monet, "Le Pont d'Argenteuil," at the Orsay Museum in Paris.</p> <hr />

Vandals Punch Hole in Priceless Monet

Above: Monet's "Le Pont D'Argenteuil" , 1874 at the Museé D'Orsay photo by Thibault Camus/Associated Press The Associa...

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