Creative response over missing art

When are paintings worth thousands of euro missing but not officially missing?

If they were once hanging in Leinster House, the answer is when they have been “mislaid”, according to state officials.

The OPW has confirmed it is still trying to locate 21 paintings that seemingly grew legs and walked down the corridors of power to the nearest exit in recent years.

As part of an ongoing “survey”, launched in 2011 following a shake-up of TDs after the general election, the body with responsibility for the upkeep of 720 pieces of art in official offices has been tasked with locating 37 items that have vanished.

Since the checks began, the OPW has found 16 works, although it has yet to reveal where they were discovered.

However, 21 oil paintings, water colours, and charcoal works, costing a combined €5,756.09and spanning 30 years, remain unaccounted for. This valuation figure is based on the price paid when the artworks were bought.

They include a Robert Ballagh limited edition print called King’s Inn Interior and a Brett McEntagart oil on canvas called Dordogne Meadow which cost €2,349.02 when purchased in 1991.

OPW chair Clare McGrath told Thursday’s Dáil public accounts committee the issue is still being examined.

However, she insisted the items have not been lost or stolen and are likely to be just “mislaid” in another Leinster House room than they were thought to be.

“We are looking to bring our survey to a conclusion this year, but it’s a situation that the paintings are not located. The paintings have been mislaid in areas,” Ms McGrath said when Labour TD Derek Nolan asked: “Does that mean they’re missing?”

It is expected the OPW will finish its survey by the end of the summer.