Latest news with #ArtRecoveryInternational
Euronews
5 days ago
- Euronews
British woman returns Italian Renaissance painting stolen 52 years ago
Antonio Solario's 'Madonna and Child', a long-sought after Italian Renaissance masterpiece has finally returned home to the Civic Museum of Belluno after more than 50 years. But, in order for it to complete its journey, the painting's British owner, Barbara de Dozsa, needed a lot of convincing that it was "the right thing to do" as the 16th-century oil painting was stolen from the museum in 1973. De Dozsa, who inherited the canvas from her late ex-husband, had initially refused to return it, despite it being on Interpol's stolen art database ever since the heist. She was eventually persuaded to hand it back by Christopher Marinello, a lawyer and founder of Art Recovery International, who specialises in the recovery of looted art. 'When it comes to returning stolen art and doing the right thing, I can be annoyingly persistent', said Marinello, who has been widely described as the art world's Sherlock Holmes. The artwork's unconditional release was ultimately 'Barbara de Dozsa's decision to make, and she chose wisely', he said in a statement. Marinello's family originated from the Veneto region, where Belluno is located. He handled the negotiations with de Dozsa on a pro bono basis. 'Her kindness has restored my faith in people who unknowingly come into possession of stolen or looted works of art.' Antonio Solario was trained in Venice and worked during the first two decades of the 16th century. His work is exhibited across Europe, including at the National Gallery in London. The Civic Museum of Belluno originally acquired his 'Madonna and Child' in 1872 among other works that were stolen a century later. De Dosza's former husband, the late Baron de Dozsa, bought the painting in 1973, soon after the robbery. Not knowing where it was from, he brought it back to his Norfolk estate in England. Its whereabouts were unknown until Barbara de Dozsa tried to sell it at a regional auction house in 2017. She claimed ownership based on the UK Limitations Act of 1980, which states that a person who buys stolen goods can be recognised as the legal owner after six years, if the purchase was unrelated to the theft. 'Nonsense', said Marinello, who claimed the painting's listing on stolen art databases meant it could 'never be sold, exhibited, or even transported without the risk of being seized.' Une publication partagée par MUBEL Musei Civici di Belluno (@museo_belluno) Belluno welcomed the Solario's ultimate return with joy. 'Today is a day of celebration', the town's mayor Oscar de Pellegrin said in an Instagram post. In a statement, the museum praised Barbara de Dozsa's 'good faith.' The Civic Museum of Belluno will exhibit the 'Madonna and Child' until 27 July. It will then be removed to undergo restoration work.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Solario's Renaissance Masterpiece 'Madonna and Child' Recovered 50 Years After Theft
A 'Madonna and Child' painting by Renaissance master Antonio Solario has finally been recovered more than 50 years after it was stolen from Italy's Civic Museum of Belluno. News that the Painting had surfaced in Britain went viral earlier this year after the owner, Barbara de Dozsa of Norfolk, attempted to sell the Painting at auction. Baroness de Dozsa had acquired the painting from her deceased former husband, Baron de Dozsa, who apparently bought the painting in good faith in Austria in 1973 shortly after the theft. In an effort to claim ownership of the Solario, Mrs. de Dozsa initially cited the UK Limitations Act of 1980 which states that a person who buys stolen goods can be recognised as the legal owner if the purchase was unconnected to the theft after more than six years. However, Christopher A. Marinello, art lawyer and founder of Art Recovery International (ARI) challenged the claim, calling it "nonsense", and has now recovered the painting after negotiations. "While the U.K. Limitations Act certainly supported her position, the fact that the Painting was listed on the Interpol and Carabinieri stolen art databases meant that the painting could never be sold, exhibited, or even transported without the risk of being seized", Marinello said. Acquired by Belluno in 1872, it was among several works stolen from the museum a century later. The painting originally surfaced in 2017 when De Dozsa tried to sell it through a regional auction house. The sale was spotted by someone linked to the Belluno museum but the painting was handed back to De Dozsa in 2020 as delays caused by the Covid lockdown led to the Italian authorities being unable to supply the required documents to restore ownership to the museum. After months of self-contemplation and some gentle arm-twisting from Marinello Mrs. de Dozsa eventually agreed to release the painting unconditionally to the Civic Museum of Belluno. Marinello added: "When it comes to returning stolen art and doing the right thing, I can be annoyingly persistent. But ultimately, it was Barbara de Dozsa's decision to make, and she chose wisely. Her kindness has restored my faith in people who unknowingly come into possession of stolen or looted works of art." The Solario was formally returned at a small ceremony at the Civic Museum of Belluno on Monday.
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Art worth $50K found in the trash, but owner doesn't want it back, officials say
Artwork found in the trash was identified as one of five paintings stolen from a Canadian gallery in 2021, officials said. Officers responded to a break-in at a gallery in Edmonton at about 3 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2021, where a business owner told them several items had been 'disturbed' and later reported several pieces of art missing, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Department told McClatchy News. Police found a half-hammer welded to a metal pipe that they believed was used to pry the gallery door open, according to a May 26 Art Recovery International post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Art Recovery identified the recovered artwork as 'Untitled, Watercolour & Ink on Paper' by Jean-Paul Riopelle — a painter and sculptor regarded as one of Canada's most significant artists of the 20th century. The business owner notified auction houses, galleries, museums and international organizations watching for stolen art, but no suspects were found, and the investigation was suspended, police said. According to Art Recovery International, the possessor said he found the artwork in the trash and put it in his closet for four years before trying to sell it in New York. Chris Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, told McClatchy News the possessor agreed May 10 to release the work to the insurance company 'unconditionally' after seeing a police report that confirmed the work was stolen. The work was worth between $50,690 to $57,932 in 2022, Marinello said. Three days prior to getting this work back, another artwork — 'Buste de femme,' by Alfred Pellan — was recovered in Canada after 32 years, he said. That work was stolen from a private collector in Montreal in 1993 and found at BYDealers auction house, when it showed up in the Interpol database of stolen artworks, he said. 'We were very pleased to see the Canadian dealer doing due diligence and cooperating fully with our organization,' Marinello said about the Pellan. 'We were also very pleased to get cooperation from the Canadian police, who confirmed the theft and provided a limited copy of the original police report.' What happens next? After artworks are recovered, Art Recovery International offers the works back to the insured owners, but if they don't want it back then the insurance company will sell it, he said. In both of these recovered art cases, the owners or next of kin said they didn't want it back, he said. This happens occasionally when 'top dollar' was paid by the insurance company when the artwork was originally stolen, and it's possible the value of the work has decreased, Marinello said. 'That's when you usually find people declining to pay back the insurance company, and they say, 'Well, we're just happy with the insurance proceeds we've had all these years. You can keep it,'' he said.
Euronews
12-03-2025
- Euronews
Meet Serik Akshulakov, Kazakhstan's Pioneer in Neurosurgery
Italian art lovers want the return of a stolen Renaissance painting but its English owner is refusing. ADVERTISEMENT In 1973, 'Madonna and Child' by Antonio Solario was stolen. The 16th century Renaissance-era painting was taken from the civic museum in the town of Belluno in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy. While it's not known exactly who stole the painting, it was later bought by Baron de Dozsa, who brought it back to his Tudor manor house in Norfolk, England. 'Madonna and Child' has been on Interpol's stolen art database ever since the incident, despite it being known that the painting is in the possession of the late baron's ex-wife, Barbara de Dozsa. Christopher Marinello, a lawyer who is an expert in returning stolen artworks, has vowed to return the painting to Belluno, where his family has roots. 'I have a family connection to this region, and I decided I was going to stick my 2 cents' in and interfere,' said Marinello, whose company Art Recovery International has helped track down works by artists including Henri Matisse and Henry Moore and return them to their rightful owners. But in this quest, he has so far been frustrated. Marinello said that de Dozsa has declined to give up the painting, despite telling him 'she never really liked it.' 'She doesn't hang it – it reminds her of her ex-husband,' he said. "Madonna and Child" by Italian painter Antonio Solari AP Photo Marinello said the painting's rediscovery began when Barbara de Dozsa tried to sell it through an auction house in England a few years ago, and it was recognized as a stolen artwork. The local police force, Norfolk Constabulary, was called in but eventually returned the painting to de Dozsa. Reportedly, UK judicial authorities instructed them to return the artwork because 'several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation.' Norfolk police said they are not currently investigating the case. Paintings by Solario, who worked across Italy in the early 16th century, have sold at auction for several hundred thousand dollars. Marinello estimated the 'Madonna and Child' is probably worth less than £100,000 pounds (€119,000). 'It's not a Rembrandt,' he said, but added: 'It has a value beyond its monetary value. Solario was from the area so it's very important to the people of Belluno.'
Euronews
12-03-2025
- Euronews
Why a British owner refuses to return a stolen Renaissance painting
Italian art lovers want the return of a stolen Renaissance painting but its English owner is refusing. ADVERTISEMENT In 1973, 'Madonna and Child' by Antonio Solario was stolen. The 16th century Renaissance-era painting was taken from the civic museum in the town of Belluno in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy. While it's not known exactly who stole the painting, it was later bought by Baron de Dozsa, who brought it back to his Tudor manor house in Norfolk, England. 'Madonna and Child' has been on Interpol's stolen art database ever since the incident, despite it being known that the painting is in the possession of the late baron's ex-wife, Barbara de Dozsa. Christopher Marinello, a lawyer who is an expert in returning stolen artworks, has vowed to return the painting to Belluno, where his family has roots. 'I have a family connection to this region, and I decided I was going to stick my 2 cents' in and interfere,' said Marinello, whose company Art Recovery International has helped track down works by artists including Henri Matisse and Henry Moore and return them to their rightful owners. But in this quest, he has so far been frustrated. Marinello said that de Dozsa has declined to give up the painting, despite telling him 'she never really liked it.' 'She doesn't hang it – it reminds her of her ex-husband,' he said. "Madonna and Child" by Italian painter Antonio Solari AP Photo Marinello said the painting's rediscovery began when Barbara de Dozsa tried to sell it through an auction house in England a few years ago, and it was recognized as a stolen artwork. The local police force, Norfolk Constabulary, was called in but eventually returned the painting to de Dozsa. Reportedly, UK judicial authorities instructed them to return the artwork because 'several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation.' Norfolk police said they are not currently investigating the case. Paintings by Solario, who worked across Italy in the early 16th century, have sold at auction for several hundred thousand dollars. Marinello estimated the 'Madonna and Child' is probably worth less than £100,000 pounds (€119,000). 'It's not a Rembrandt,' he said, but added: 'It has a value beyond its monetary value. Solario was from the area so it's very important to the people of Belluno.'
