Carel fabritiuss the goldfinch
Was the goldfinch painting ever stolen!
The Goldfinch (painting)
Painting by Carel Fabritius
The Goldfinch (Dutch: Het puttertje) is a painting by the Dutch Golden Age artistCarel Fabritius of a life-sized chained goldfinch.
Why is the goldfinch painting so valuable
Signed and dated 1654, it is now in the collection of the Mauritshuis in The Hague, Netherlands. The work is a trompe-l'œiloil on panel measuring 33.5 by 22.8 centimetres (13.2 in × 9.0 in) that was once part of a larger structure, perhaps a window jamb or a protective cover.
It is possible that the painting was in its creator's workshop in Delft at the time of the gunpowder explosion that killed him and destroyed much of the city.
A common and colourful bird with a pleasant song, the goldfinch was a popular pet, and could be taught simple tricks including lifting a thimble-sized bucket of water.
It was reputedly a bringer of good health, and was used in Italian Renaissance painting as a symbol of Christian redemption and the Passion of Jesus.
The Goldfinch is unusual fo