A life filled with drugs, sex, and rock ‘n’ roll has been replaced by a peaceful existence of painting from his home in rural Vermont.
But Ronnie Wood remains a hell-raiser at heart – and says he is planning an art scandal with a twist in his latest work.
The 75-year old Rolling Stones singer has recreated Rembrandt’s The Storm on the Sea of Galilee on large scale in order to host an exhibition of recent works.
Two thieves disguised as policemen stole the 1633 oil on canvas from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts in 1990. It remains among the most significant thefts in American art history.
Unveiling his homage to the Dutch master at Kenwood House in London, Wood joked that he’d like to perform the heist in reverse – by sneaking his version into the empty frame at the museum the original was stolen from.
Ronnie Wood (pictured above at Kenwood House) has recreated Rembrandt’s painting.
Rembrandt painted a 1633 version of The Storm at the Sea of Galilee. The original is shown in the picture.
The guitarist spoke to Mail and said that he saw an empty frame, which prompted him to tell the curator “What a shame”. I thought: I know exactly what I am going to do.
“When I return to England, I will paint the replica and then reverse heist the museum to steal my photo.
Wood paints from his man cave at the Hertfordshire house, and has also created a “bonus seascape” on the side.
He said, “So it’s also a diptych.” It’s the Rembrandt tribute. A double painting, one of each. I imagine it as a continuation. And it is a message for the future.
In 1990, the Dutch artist stole his masterpiece from Boston. This is the frame that was empty where the painting used to be.
Wood is a Rembrandt-like character. ‘I’m holding Rembrandt steady. It’s my way of saying, “Hold on old man.” Grab that rope.
The picture, depicting the Biblical story of Jesus calming the storms, was taken from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Despite numerous leads, it has not been located.
Wood was an artist in the 1960s, before he entered music.
An earlier Rembrandt recreation – of Self-Portrait with Two Circles – which Wood did at 12 is also on show at Kenwood. From today to Sunday, the free exhibition will be open.