1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: Hey, history enthusiasts, you get not one, but two events 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: in history today. With that said, on with the show. 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: Greetings everyone, welcome to this day in History class, where 4 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: we learn a smidgen of history every day. The day 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: was May seven nine, just about three months after it 6 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: was stolen Edvard Monk's painting The Scream was recovered from 7 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: a hotel room in Norway. Monk created four versions of 8 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: The Scream, a well known expressionistic work depicting a person 9 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: screaming in anguish. One of those versions, the three painting, 10 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: made with tempera on cardboard, was in the National Museum 11 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: in Oslo. As the nineteen Winter Olympics were approaching, the 12 00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: museum moved The Scream to the ground floor gallery, even 13 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: though the ground floor is typically the riskiest floor when 14 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: it comes to potential for art theft. The museum had 15 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,680 Speaker 1: safety systems like cameras and alarms, but on February twel 16 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: the day of the Olympics opening ceremony in Norway, two 17 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: men arrived at the National Gallery in a van. They 18 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: leaned a ladder against the wall, broke a window and 19 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: climbed inside the building to steal the valuable painting. At 20 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: around six thirty in the morning. The museum's alarm was triggered. 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 1: A guard called the police, but the men had already 22 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: cut the Scream off the wall and escaped with the painting. 23 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: The whole operation only took fifty seconds and was captured 24 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: on tape by a surveillance camera. The thieves left a 25 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: postcard in the gallery that read thanks for the poor security. 26 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: Some people believed that the theft was a publicity stunt. 27 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: It would be nearly impossible to sell a famous stolen 28 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: work of art. A former priest and leader in the 29 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: anti abortion movement did a radio interview less than a 30 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,560 Speaker 1: week after the theft where he claimed the painting would 31 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 1: turn up if the National Television Company aired an anti 32 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: abortion film called The Silent Scream. That never happened. In 33 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: early March, a lawyer working for the anti abortion movement 34 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: said one of his clients could provide for the paintings 35 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: return if he was paid a million dollars. That claim 36 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: was also dismissed when the National Gallery received a ransom 37 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: demand of one million dollars. They refused to pay it, 38 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: but the assistant police chief in Oslo did enlist the 39 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: Scotland yard squad that specializes in art and antiquity stuff. 40 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 1: To help solve the crime and get the painting back, 41 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: they mounted a sting operation to catch the people who 42 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: were seeking the ransom, and planted a rumor that the 43 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: National Gallery set up a deal with the Getty Museum 44 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 1: in California, where the Getty would pay the ransom if 45 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: it could borrow the painting after it was returned. The 46 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: thieves took debates in late April and early May. Police 47 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,919 Speaker 1: found pieces of the paintings frame at a bus stop 48 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 1: and other places in Nitzaal near Oslo, but detectives reached 49 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: the end of their trail when two British agents posing 50 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,920 Speaker 1: as officials from the getting Museum said they would pay 51 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: for the painting. On Saturday, May seventh, they viewed the 52 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 1: painting in room of the Hotel Oscar Strawn. Then they 53 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: went to the Grand Hotel in Oslo, where they were 54 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: supposed to pay the ransom. There three people were arrested, 55 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: though one, an art dealer who the galleries chairman had 56 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 1: enlisted as a go between, was soon let off. The 57 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: painting was recovered and undamaged. In four men were convicted 58 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: for theft and attempting to sell stolen property. Paul and Year, 59 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: who had been to prison before for stealing another Moon's work, 60 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: received a sentence of six years and three months in prison, 61 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: But because the British detectives working on the k entered 62 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: Norway using false identities, which was illegal, the convictions of 63 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: three of the thieves were overturned and they were released 64 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 1: in nine and Year, who remained in prison, escaped when 65 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: he had a little over a year left to serve. 66 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,039 Speaker 1: In early nine nine, he dipped off during a group 67 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: visit to a new Oslo airport. After two weeks he 68 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: was found at a rail station wearing dark glasses and 69 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: a wig. The National Gallery improved a security after the ordeal. 70 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: In two thousand four, another version of The Scream was 71 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: stolen from the Monk Museum in Norway. It was recovered 72 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: two years later, so damaged. I'm Eve Deafcoat and hopefully 73 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: you know a little more about history today than you 74 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: did yesterday. I have one interesting additional note for you. 75 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: The past Dale version of The Scream sold at auction 76 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: for a hundred and nineteen point nine million dollars in twelve. 77 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: We love it if you left us a comment on Twitter, 78 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: Instagram or Facebook at t d I h C podcast. 79 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: Thank you again for listening and we'll see you tomorrow. 80 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, I'm Eves and welcome to This Day and 81 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: History Class, a podcast that brings you a new slice 82 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: of history every day. The day was May seven. The 83 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 1: Cult of the Supreme Being was authorized by a decree 84 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: of the National Convention, which was the first government of 85 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: the French Revolution. Maximilian Robespierre, a Jacobin leader who played 86 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: an important role in the Revolution, created the Cult of 87 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 1: the Supreme Being in order to establish a national religion 88 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: based on Deism. In seventy nine, Robespierre was elected as 89 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 1: a deputy to the Estates General. The Estates General as 90 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 1: a general assembly that represented the French estates of the realm. 91 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: But in June, as the French Revolution began, the Third 92 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: Estate redefined itself as the National Assembly, and Robespierre became 93 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: a Deputy of the National Assembly. He became increasingly popular 94 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: as he spoke out against the monarchy and supported democratic reforms. 95 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 1: Robespierre supported the Declaration of the Rights of Man and 96 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: of the Citizen, and he advocated for universal male suffrage. 97 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: He opposed slavery in France and French territories, and he 98 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 1: went up against the Catholic Church, the official church of France, 99 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: by opposing the requirement of celibacy for the clergy. Influenced 100 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: by Enlightenment philosophies, Robespierre also opposed the Cult of Reason, 101 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: an atheistic cult that rejected the Catholic Church and championed 102 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: reason and liberty. During the Enlightenment in France, the Catholic 103 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: Church was criticized for many reasons. More French people were 104 00:06:56,120 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: becoming frustrated with the Church's power, wealth, mistreatment of religious minorities, 105 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: links with the monarchy, and restrictions of individual liberty. As 106 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: the Revolution ramped up in the French monarchy fail in Sevo, 107 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: anti clerical sentiment grew. Catholicism became the target of a 108 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: lot of revolutionaries resentment. A movement of de Christianization grew 109 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: out of this environment. Priests who continued practicing faced arrest 110 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 1: and deportation. Public worship was prohibited, Relics and symbols of 111 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: Christianity were seized and destroyed. Churches were closed and converted 112 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: for use as warehouses and stables. In the case of 113 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: the Cult of Reason, churches were converted into so called 114 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: temples of Reason. The cult of Reason represented an attempt 115 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: to find a religion to replace Catholicism. Meanwhile, Robespierre was 116 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: orchestrating the Reign of Terror, a period when the revolutionary 117 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 1: government ordered harsh measures and death against supposed enemies of 118 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: the revolution. While the Cult of Reason had many fall wars, 119 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: it also had detractors, including Robespierre. He rejected the Cult 120 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: of Reason as running counter to his goal of creating 121 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 1: a stable and virtuous republic. He wanted to form a 122 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: religion that still recognized a higher power, so he created 123 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: the Cult of the Supreme Being. It recognized a supreme 124 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: deity and the immortality of the soul, which would appease 125 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: people with religious beliefs and inspire moral behavior. On May seven, 126 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 1: seventeen ninety four, Robespierre gave a speech to the National Convention, 127 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 1: partly on the relationship between religious ideas and Republican principles. 128 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: The convention passed a decree to officially establish the Cult 129 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: of the Supreme Being. The Festival of the Supreme Being 130 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: was held on June eighth, and it included speeches and ceremony, 131 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: but the cult did not gain any real momentum. Its 132 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:55,079 Speaker 1: ideas weren't that convincing, and Robespierre, who cast himself as 133 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: its leader, wasn't fit for the role. Some believed the 134 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: cult mark to the end of de Christianization or the 135 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 1: reign of terror, but revolutionary violence continued. Robespierre was executed 136 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: just weeks after the festival on July, and the cult 137 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: soon fall by the wayside. After Napoleon came to power 138 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:21,600 Speaker 1: in France, in Catholicism was restored in the country. I'm 139 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: Eve Jeff Coote and hopefully you know a little more 140 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: about history today than you did yesterday. And if you 141 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: have any comments are suggestions, you can send them to 142 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 1: us at this day at I heeart media dot com. 143 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: You can also follow us on social media. We're at 144 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: t d i h C Podcast on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 145 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,959 Speaker 1: Thanks again for listening to the show and we'll see 146 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: you tomorrow. For more podcasts from My Heart Radio, visit 147 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 148 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.