24/08/2001

Three days after Marc Chagall's Study for Over Vitebsk was found to be missing from the Jewish Museum in New York, a letter postmarked the Bronx, one of the five boroughs of New York City, arrived at the museum with a "peace for painting" demand. The letter stated that the small $ 1,000,000 (€ 1,094,845) oil painting in a wooden frame will not be returned until peace has been negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians. The painting was among nearly 60 pieces in an exhibition entitled Marc Chagall: Early Works from Russian Collections and was found to be missing on June 9th, the day after the museum threw a cocktail party for singles at which 200 people attended. The painting, 8in by 10in, is small enough to conceal inside a jacket, bag or briefcase. The museum, the FBI and the New York police department are taking the letter seriously and so far 20 people have come forward after the museum offered a $ 25,000 (€ 27,371) reward for its return. (James Goulder)