An enigmatic case has captured the attention of French authorities and the art world. Unknown perpetrators stole a remarkable 150-kilogram bronze book cover created by Salvador Dalí from the C. Karoutzos Contemporary Art Center in Issoire, central France. This unique work of art, adorned with gold, pearls, precious stones, and shells, served as the cover of the monumental book “Livre de l’Apocalypse.”
The break-in took place on the night of October 4–5, 2026. The perpetrators damaged the building’s entrance gate, forced open the display case, and managed to remove the massive object without being detected. Fortunately, the original sheepskin parchments, containing handwritten biblical passages and illustrations by renowned artists, were stored in a separate location and remained untouched.
The center’s owner, Cristian Karoutzos, who acquired the artwork in 2003, has expressed deep concern over its fate. There are serious fears that the thieves may dismantle or melt down the cover to sell its precious metals and gemstones on the market. The public prosecutor’s office in Clermont-Ferrand is conducting an extensive investigation, while the incident has once again brought security at cultural institutions across France into focus.
Source: The New York Times
