AM I alone, like the small boy who could see that the Emperor was naked in the story of 'The Emperor's new clothes', in realising that the art theft at the Museum of Modern Art, removed rubbish?

I have always regarded Picasso as one of the most gifted confidence tricksters of all time. I think that the thief may have done a favour to the Museum of Modern Art by removing them. I have seen better paintings come out of an infant’s art class than these obscenely priced daubs on canvas! There must be photographs of the missing 'Art'? Print these and replace in the frames so that they can still be viewed. After all the original confidence tricks can still be seen and marvelled at, that people could assign such ridiculous values against these poorly painted monstrosities!

Contrast any of these with the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood and I think you would understand my point.

I can remember looking at a piece of paper that was folded and creased, placed inside a frame at the Swindon Art Gallery. I thought then that someone was having a joke at my expense, as it had been bought by the council.

BARRY E WOODHAM Scotby Avenue Swindon