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75 Van Gogh paintings moved in high-security operation

Vincent Van Gogh's greatest masterpieces were moved across town while the Van Gogh Museum undergoes renovations.

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Researchers found that Van Gogh's "Flowers in a Blue Vase" was damaged by chemicals in the varnish. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
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75 Van Gogh works were moved in high-security operation that began Sunday night in Amsterdam and stretched into the morning hours on Monday.

The Van Gogh Museum reported the post-impressionist painter's most famous paintings were moved across town while Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum undergoes renovations for the next seven months.

More from GlobalPost: Van Gogh painting damaged by chemical in varnish

Associated Press reported some of those works, including "Sunflowers," "Irises" and "Bedroom," are moving to The Hermitage, "an Amsterdam dependency of the Russian state museum," according to the AP.

According to the AP, Men removed "alarm tags" from behind the masterpieces but Museum director Axel Ruger was confident in the security of the operation.

"We do this all the time," Ruger said although the number of paintings in this particular move was larger than most.

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http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/culture-lifestyle/120924/van-gogh-paintings-moved-high-security-operation

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