Painting stolen from earthquake-damaged Italian church

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Painting looted from earthquake-damaged church in central Italy | Italian authorities are investigating the apparent theft of a 17th-century painting from a church in Nottoria, central Italy. The Pardon of Assisi (1631) by French painter Jean Lhomme was cut from its frame after the building was severely damaged in the recent earthquakes. Although this is one of the first incidents of reported looting in the region, there are fears that more works could go missing as buildings and towns are left abandoned.

Remains of Paul Gauguin’s father identified in Chile | The Art Newspaper reports that the remains of Paul Gauguin’s father, Clovis, have been identified on the former site of Fuerte Bulnes, a demolished fortress near the Strait of Magellan in Chile. A small cemetery was discovered on the site some time ago, but the exact identification, based on subsequent analysis of the finds, is made in a new book by Caroline Boyle-Turner. According to the historian, Clovis Gauguin died of a heart condition in the vicinity of the fort while attempting to emigrate to Peru with his family in 1849.

Chief curator of Seoul’s Ilmin Museum steps down after sexual harassment claims | Youngjune Hahm, chief curator of Seoul’s Ilmin Museum of Art, has resigned following allegations of sexual harassment. He was first accused of impropriety over social media, when photographer Soma Kim alleged that he had pursued her and touched her inappropriately. Further allegations from other women followed. Hahm has apologised for wrongdoing and abusing his position in a series of public statements.

Rediscovered Brueghel painting to go on show in Bath | In its announcement of the upcoming exhibition ‘Bruegel: Defining a Dynasty’, the Holburne Museum has revealed that a painting in its collection previously believed to be by a follower or copyist has been reattributed to Pieter Brueghel the Younger himself. Wedding Dance in the Open Air was reappraised following conservation work and technical examination. No other UK museum boasts an original example of the popular scene.