Mini-Mozart statues stolen ahead of anniversary tribute
Hörl depicted Mozart with his favorite dog, Pimperl, with whom he and his family were known to take long walks in the nearby Mirabell Garden.
More than 200 gold statuettes of Austria’s most famous composer disappeared from his hometown of Salzburg, officials said on Aug. 12, leaving a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on his 270th birthday considerably less crowded.
The Mozarteum Foundation on July 15 unveiled 320 statuettes, barely 50 centimeters high, showing Mozart with his dog. They were designed by German conceptual artist Ottmar Hörl.
Within two weeks, more than 80 of the polymer figures had disappeared. By Wednesday, a total of 210 were missing.
