Chagall Painting Stolen In Tel Aviv

The Marc Chagall painting “Jacob’s Ladder” has been stolen from a Tel Aviv art gallery,

The owner of the Gordon Gallery said Sunday the painting was displayed prominently when the gallery opened Friday morning. But when a visitor asked employees where the Chagall was 20 minutes later, all that was left was a bent nail on the column where it had been hanging.

Gallery owner Shaya Yariv said the 16-inch-by-18-inch framed painting was valued at between $140,000 and $180,000.

Yariv speculated that it could have been smuggled out under a raincoat or cape.

The painting was scheduled to have been auctioned Sunday. The painting was owned by a third party, who the gallery wouldn’t identify, and was insured.