Max Ernst Vanishes

An oil painting by the German surrealist artist Max Ernst was stolen from the Art Cologne contemporary and modern art fair. The abstract, untitled painting from about 1957 was noticed missing from the stand of Salis & Vertes, an art gallery with branches in Salzburg, Austria, and St. Moritz, Switzerland, as employees were packing up at the end of the fair, a statement on the German police Web site said. The painting is valued at about 165,000 euros ($211,000), police said. About 68,400 visitors attended Art Cologne, Germany's biggest contemporary and modern art fair, from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. Security personnel checked visitors' possessions as they entered and left the exhibition halls. Art valued at about $95 million was sold at this year's event. For the full story - click the title Irish Art