Investigation and Theft Details
Police in are probing the theft of a bronze statue of , cut off at the ankles and removed from near her hometown of . The sculpture was reported stolen on Tuesday.
The statue, created by American artist , replaced a wooden one that was torched by arsonists in 2020. It was dedicated to Melania Trump's memory and depicted her in a pale blue dress.
Artistic and Cultural Context
The original wooden statue, showing Melania in a pale blue dress similar to her 2017 inauguration attire, was cut from a linden tree trunk. The bronze replica had no obvious resemblance to the first lady.
Downey expressed sadness over the statue's theft, speculating it might relate to 's recent election. The statue was part of a series of artistic representations honoring Melania Trump's ties to Slovenia.