It wasnt always as simple as straightforward theft and it may not have been the case with the Visigoth stone. Who knows? I still find it hard to believe that nobody in the village heard anything.
Apparently Erik sometimes bought items with the collusion of people from the town or village in question and sometimes from the priests of the churches he was supposed to have robbed. He claimed that the Spanish state and even the Vatican itself often authorized the sale of works of art to make some extra cash. What was sold in many cases would have ended up neglected, lost or stolen anyway.
Its also clear that in many places the heritage wasnt recognized or considered important and when it was, it wasnt valued. What was the point of having a medieval tableau in all its splendour when the water from a leaky church roof would only rot the thing away?
Others of course, were less willing to sacrifice the family silver. The parish priest of Roda was said to have spent 16 years sleeping in his church terrified that Eric the Belgian would one day call in search of a rich ecclesiastical bounty.
El Gordo Wrote:Why "unsurprisingly"? I was frankly astonished by this matrimonial footnote.
Interesting tale (and evocative snaps as always). That "after" picture is just so sad. This kind of vandalism is a despicable crime. "My interests are more important than yours; more important than those of the community and our history". It's a form of cultural murder.
Erik would have disputed the idea of cultural murder. He said that he robbed for love of art
and that the museums of Europe had filled their exhibition rooms using similar methods for centuries
.
What was astonishing was that he was acquitted. This either suggested that people in high places collaborated with Eriks methods of cultural safekeeping or that his lawyer was a genius. I was just imagining Eric after those 3 years in prison (and the life sentence he was expecting!) falling down on one knee and proposing to his lawyer in the very courtroom. Of course it didnt happen like that and it might have been surprising that she accepted but not knowing the lady in question I cant say.
The definitive story of Erik the Belgian is yet to be written. I picked up these titbits of information from a couple of interviews in the newspapers.
http://www.belt.es/noticias/2004/septiem...o_arte.htm
http://www.telepolis.com/cgi-bin/web/DIS...vistas.htm
http://www.elmundo.es/papel/hemeroteca/1...01096.html
Last Sundays excursion was a 6-hour mountain hike. Ill try to write it up when I can.
Im now in a provisional list of 200 for the race
I still dare not mention. Only 140 can take part. The draw is next Thursday and if my name comes out of the hat Ill finally have to mention
the race I dare not mention. Itll be just like the draw for the 3rd round of the cup.
The all new training diary.
