The Mayor of Amiens, in northern France, has asked Madonna to return a 19th-century painting lost during WWI, which they believe she may have bought.
The painting “Diana and Endymion” by Jérôme-Martin Langlois was once displayed in an Amiens museum but was lost during a bombing in 1918.
The city believes Madonna may have purchased a nearly identical painting at a New York auction in 1989 and hopes its return would boost Amiens’s chances of being named the European Capital of Culture in 2028.
The tour stops of Madonna in Paris this November provide an opportunity for her to visit Amiens and see the city’s cultural offerings.
According to Le Figaro, Madonna bought a nearly identical painting for $1.3 million at a New York auction in 1989. There has been no comment from Madonna’s spokesperson.
The Mayor hopes that the return of the painting would boost Amiens’ chances of being named the European Capital of Culture.
The painting, which depicts the Roman goddess Diana gazing at the handsome Endymion, holds significant cultural and historical value for the city.
However, the actual ownership of the painting is yet to be confirmed, and Madonna has not responded to the request for comment.
Amiens, the birthplace of French President Emmanuel Macron, is vying to become the European Capital of Culture in 2028.
In a Facebook video, Amiens Mayor Brigitte Fouré requested that Madonna lend the city a painting believed to be in her possession to aid their bid.
The painting, “Diana and Endymion,” was commissioned by King Louis XVIII for Versailles palace and later bought by the state in 1873.
It was possibly lent to the Amiens museum by the Louvre prior to WWI but went missing after the bombing of the city.
Madonna has upcoming European tour dates, including two shows in Paris, less than 2 hours from Amiens. Mayor Fouré did not challenge Madonna’s legal ownership of the painting but hoped it can be lent for the cultural bid.
Madonna may respond to the request, but her tour stops in Paris this November provide an opportunity for her to visit Amiens and see the city’s cultural offerings.
Being named the European Capital of Culture would bring international recognition and tourism to the region, making the return of the painting an important symbol for Amiens’ bid.
Regardless of Madonna’s decision, the Mayor’s request highlights the cultural significance of the painting and the city’s efforts to preserve its heritage.
The mayor of Amiens’s request highlights the painting’s cultural significance and the city’s efforts to preserve its heritage.
Whether Madonna chooses to lend the painting or not, it serves as a reminder of the impact of war on cultural treasures and the importance of preserving them for future generations.
As Amiens continues its bid to become the European Capital of Culture, it remains to be seen what role the “Diana and Endymion” painting will play in the city’s cultural legacy.
Regardless of the outcome, the request by the Mayor has brought attention to the rich cultural history of Amiens and its efforts to preserve it for the world to see.
