Romain Rouillard 7:10 p.m., January 17, 2023

Candidate to become the European capital of culture in 2028, the city of Amiens has appealed to Madonna to obtain the loan of the painting acquired in 1989 by the pop star.

According to "Le Figaro", the work was once exhibited in the museum of Amiens before disappearing following bombardments in 1918.

Brigitte Fouré, re-elected as head of the town hall of Amiens in 2020, posted a rather unexpected video on her Facebook account on Monday, reports France Bleu Picardie.

Sitting behind her desk, the city councilor directly challenges the pop star Madonna, in reaction to an article in

Le Figaro

published on January 9.

The daily tells how the artist acquired a painting in 1989 - for the modest sum of 1.3 million dollars - which was once exhibited at the Picardy museum in Amiens.

After bombings over the city in 1918, Martin Langlois' work, baptized

Diana and Endymion

, then disappeared from radar before a near-twin painting was sold at auction in New York and then joined Madonna's abode. 

"A special bond has been forged between you and our city"

Candidate to become the European capital of culture in 2028, the city of Amiens would therefore like to temporarily get its hands on this table.

"Madonna, you probably don't know the city of Amiens but for a few days, a special bond has been forged between yourself and our city", begins Brigitte Fouré.

The elected then assures the singer that she does not question the "legal acquisition" of this painting but will still seek a favor from her.

"I would like you to lend us your painting so that the people of Amiens can find this work and enjoy it," she says. 

A stolen and cut painting?

In 2015, a curator from Amiens recognized the work by reading a report from

Paris Match

devoted to the star.

The Amiens museum then filed a complaint against X for theft but the investigation remains, for the time being, at a standstill, according to

Le Figaro

.

The daily also reports that the painting exhibited at Madonna's home has slightly different dimensions compared to those of the missing painting.

Its height is 3 cm lower, leaving neither date nor signature visible.

The canvas could therefore have been cut.

She appears, in any case, on a photo shared by fans of the singer on Twitter. 

Stunning #Madonna pic.twitter.com/gdCd1LJ5GW

— Madonna Nation ❌ (@MadonnaNationX) November 27, 2021

For now, Madonna has not responded to this call.

The 64-year-old American star has announced her big comeback on stage during a world tour that will take her to Paris on November 12 and 13.