Discover how “Little Stuart Little” helped solve a police riddle that had been unsolved for more than eight decades!
Released in 1999, “Stuart Little” follows the adventures of the friendly little white mouse that gives the film its title after being adopted by a family of humans. This is because, in addition to the love he receives from the Littles, the rodent needs to deal with the plans of the family cat, Snowbell, who intends to get rid of him in any way.
The plot, led by Rob Minkoff (The Lion King), takes shape through the performances of Michael J. Fox (Stuart Little), Geena Davis (Eleanor Little), Jonathan Lipnicki (Geroge Little), Nathan Lane (Snowbell) and many others.
It is worth highlighting that the fun story, which permeates the comedy and adventure genres to present a metaphor about the acceptance of diversity, became a children’s classic, being part of the first contact with cinema for many children to this day, almost 25 years after its debut, or even in the programming of the most nostalgic, who don’t give up a comfort film.
But beyond the message of the plot, which is capable of teaching valuable lessons, and the plot, which makes people laugh, what some may not imagine is that the feature film became a fundamental piece in solving a police enigma that lasted for more than 80 years: the disappearance of a rare painting by a Hungarian painter.
THE MISSING PICTURE
Entitled “Woman With a Black Vase” (‘Woman with a Black Vase’, in free translation), the artist’s painting Robert Berény (1888-1953), one of the masters of the Hungarian avant-garde between the wars, was considered lost during the 1920s, as explained by the G1 portal.
The case remained unsolved until 2009, when, by chance, the art historian Gergely Barkia researcher at Hungary’s national gallery, realized that the work of art was part of the setting for one of the film’s scenes.
This is because, at the moment when the Little family gathers to take a photograph wearing formal clothes, there is a painting nailed to the wall behind them, which Barki recognized it, as he had seen an old black and white photo dated 1928 before.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Bereny’s long-lost masterpiece on the wall behind Hugh Laurie. I almost dropped Lola [filha de Barki, com quem ele assistia ao filme] from my lap”, reported the historian in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian in 2014 (via Aventuras na História).
“A researcher never takes his eyes off his work, even when watching Christmas movies at home,” he added. Barki.
Right after, Barki He tried to contact the film’s producer team, which included Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures, sending several emails, which were only answered two years after his first message.
The answer came from a former set designer for the feature film, as explained by Barkiwho told him that the painting had been purchased for a ridiculous amount, as the purchase was made in an antiques store for US$500, around RS 2,460.55, at the current price.
She [ex-cenógrafa] “She said the painting was hanging on her wall,” he explained. “She bought it for next to nothing at an antiques store in Pasadena, California, thinking its avant-garde elegance was perfect for ‘Stuart Little’s’ living room.”
According to G1, Barki said that there is a possibility that the painting was acquired pre-war by a Jewish collector who fled to the United States.
A few years later, in 2014, the painting was put up for sale at an auction in Budapest, where it was sold for 229,500 euros (around R$1,226,485.97, at the current price).
Source: Recreio
