Kenmare and Locality Animal Welfare Society (KLAWS) volunteers have urged the public to keep an eye out for the painting in the hope that it can be recovered.
Charity shop manager Catharina Verweel, who has been a KLAWS volunteer for 15 years, told The Kerryman that the alleged theft of the painting amounts to a “nasty incident”.
“When I walked into the shop on Thursday morning, I said, ‘Hey, there is an empty space on the wall. Where is that painting?’ And I knew it was not sold,” Catharina said.
Catharina and her colleagues now believe that the painting was taken on Wednesday, perhaps when the shop volunteer on duty was in another room.
She said the incident was reported to Gardaí but the trouble is that no one saw the painting being taken from its place on the wall and there is no security cameras in the premises.
“We are asking people to have a look out for the whereabouts of the painting. You know, some people might notice it,” Catharina said.
The shop on Main Street has been open for approximately one year, and the theft of small items has occurred occasionally.
“I can see that some people try to steal small things, and that happens all the time. We know that. But this was really shocking in a way,” Catharina said.
The missing painting, depicting a canal scene, is believed to be an original work by Dutch artist Jan Jacob Coenraad Spohler (1837-1923), under the pen name J Corver.
The artwork has a valuable heavy golden frame.
Catharina said that a KLAWS volunteer who had the painting in her family for a long time decided to donate it to the shop to raise much-needed funds at Christmas.
“She went to an auction with it and it was worth €400. But in a charity shop, you don’t sell that for €400. So we thought a nice price would be €150 maybe. And when somebody’s interested, you can always go down,” Catharina explained.
The shop manager said it is a real pity for the woman who generously donated the painting, and for KLAWS, which is in need of funds.
The charity, operating around Kenmare and the Iveragh Peninsula, provides care for dogs and cats and treatment for sick and injured animals. It also helps to find permanent homes for rescue animals.
“We need the money for the expenses and all that. We have to pay for everything. It’s all for the animals,” Catharina said.
“We are all volunteers. Nobody is earning money from it,” she added.
KLAWS has asked anybody with information on the whereabouts of the painting to get in contact privately.
The charity stated that no questions will be asked if the painting is returned to the shop.