The Botticelli Madonna by Richard Cox

Author:Richard Cox [Cox, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silvertail Books
Published: 2024-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

The light shone on Bostock’s bald head, and his rubicund face glowed. Karin thought he looked like a character out of Dickens, very English and avuncular. They were sitting in a small office in the modern administrative block behind the National Gallery, a building often not noticed by visitors who entered through the famous porticoed façade on Trafalgar Square.

“To be honest, Miss Schumann,” he was saying, “there are limits to the influence we can exert on Luttrell’s. It’s pretty well unthinkable that they would buy without making sure the seller had legal title to the picture. Some dealers, yes. Not Luttrell’s.”

“But I must visit them!” she insisted. “I’ve wasted two precious days trying to track the Botticelli’s entry through customs. This American Webster turning up is a colossal stroke of luck. I must follow it up. Surely your government can put on some kind of pressure.”

“We are government-supported but not owned, and we keep out of politics.” Bostock made a wry face. “Our independence is very precious to us. If you want political backing you’ll have to work through your embassy. Frankly, you’re going to be up against the fact that this Botticelli was only on loan to the Kunsthistorisches.”

“What if I tell him the truth?”

Bostock hesitated, rattling his fingernails on the desk top as he pondered. “The truth can be a double-edged weapon, Miss Schumann.”

“You mean I’ll frighten him into disposing of it quickly?”

“Oh, no. Charles Luttrell is a poker player. If he has good title, you won’t scare him.”

“But what about the ethics of the trade, the art dealers’ associations, all those high-sounding principles they have?”

“You mean the British Art Dealers’ Association? Of course they cooperate with us.” Bostock conceded the point gracefully. “They are in a position to exert pressure within the trade. But that would only be necessary with the small fry. If any reputable dealer has an item known to belong to a museum he usually will return it anyway. Did you hear about the icons? No? A little while ago the Temple Gallery in Knightsbridge were sold one which they eventually recognized as belonging to a Greek museum. The seller had promised a second, more valuable one. They hung on several months until he reappeared, talked him into allowing them to keep it for twenty-four hours, identified it as having been stolen from a museum in Rhodes and went straight with the information to the Greek ambassador. Subsequently there was a nice little bit of Anglo-Greek cordiality when the two icons were officially handed back. Such things do happen.”

“You don’t see a small Anglo-Austrian ceremony taking place?” Karin pretended a lightheartedness she did not feel.

Bostock shook his head. “As I said, the Botticelli doesn’t belong to you, does it?”

“The Waldhofens meant it to be with us.” Karin was becoming defiant again. While he was talking she had conceived a plan. “I am going to try. Will you telephone Luttrell for me, please?”

Politely Bostock did as she asked.

“On your head be it,” he remarked as he put the phone down.

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