Latest news with #AntonioSolario
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.
The Guardian
21-07-2025
- The Guardian
Norfolk woman hands over 16th-century painting identified as stolen 50 years ago
A 16th-century Madonna and Child painting that ended up with a woman in Norfolk after it was stolen from a museum in Italy half a century ago is to be returned to its rightful owner. After years of soul-searching, and persuading by an art lawyer who was acting pro bono, Barbara de Dozsa decided to hand it over to the Civic Museum of Belluno, which last saw the painting in 1973. As the Guardian reported in March, she had refused to return the artwork, even though it is on the most-wanted lists of various police forces, including Interpol and the Italian Carabinieri. She had argued ownership, partly because her former husband, the late Baron de Dozsa, bought it in good faith in 1973, soon after the robbery. Until their divorce, it was in their 16th-century Norfolk home, East Barsham manor near Fakenham, described by Henry VIII as his 'small country palace'. It was painted by the Italian artist, Antonio Solario, known as Lo Zingaro (the Gypsy), some of whose other paintings are in the National Gallery in London. Acquired by Belluno in 1872, it was among several works that were stolen a century later. Some were recovered soon afterwards in Austria, where De Dozsa's husband bought the Solario painting from an unnamed source. Its whereabouts was unknown until 2017, when De Dozsa tried to sell it through a regional auction house, and it was spotted by someone linked to the Belluno museum. 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 relevant documents requested by the British police. Over the years, Christopher Marinello, a leading specialist art lawyer, had tried repeatedly to persuade her to do 'the right thing' and return it to Belluno. He handled the recovery negotiations on a pro-bono basis because he wanted to help the town in the Veneto region of northern Italy, from where his family originated. 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. Marinello dismissed that argument as 'nonsense'. He said: 'While the UK 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.' He is the founder of Art Recovery International, which focuses on stolen or looted art and is based in London, Venice and New York. His previous recoveries include a Matisse painting that was stolen in 1987 from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art and had disappeared without trace for 25 years until it surfaced in London. De Dozsa eventually agreed to release the painting unconditionally to Belluno. Marinello said: 'She has restored my faith in humanity when so many possessors today of stolen artwork try to hold on to it. Despite the rights of the victim, people have no sympathy any more and she has proven otherwise.' He joked: '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.' He paid tribute to Arte Generali, the art insurance company that made the recovery possible with a donation to cover the logistical costs, although it was unconnected with this case. 'Without their support, this recovery would never have happened,' Marinello said. Another Madonna and Child, by the 19th-century Italian artist Placido Fabris, is among other stolen paintings missing from Belluno. They are listed on the Carabinieri stolen art database. Marinello is calling for the public to contact him if they spot any of them in private or public collections: 'The Solario made it to the UK, why not these?' Oscar De Pellegrin, the mayor of Belluno, said: 'Returning this painting to the city means giving back a fragment of its identity, its history and its soul.' De Dozsa declined to comment.
Washington Post
11-03-2025
- Washington Post
A painting stolen from an Italian museum is found in England, but its new owner wants to keep it
LONDON — A 16th-century painting stolen more than 50 years ago has been found — and is now at the center of a custody battle between a widow in England and a small Italian museum. 'Madonna and Child' by Antonio Solario was taken in 1973 from the civic museum in the town of Belluno in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy. Sometime later it was bought by Baron de Dozsa and taken to his Tudor manor house in eastern England, according to Christopher Marinello, a lawyer who specializes in recovering stolen and looted artworks. It is now in the possession of Barbara de Dozsa, the late baron's ex-wife.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Norfolk woman refuses to hand over 16th-century Italian painting identified as stolen
A 16th-century Madonna and Child painting disappeared without a trace after it was stolen from a museum in northern Italy more than half a century ago. Now, having surfaced in Britain, it is in the possession of a woman in Norfolk, who is refusing to return it – even though it is listed on police stolen art databases. It was painted by Antonio Solario, an Italian who is represented in the National Gallery in London and whose patrons included a Bristol cloth merchant who traded with Italy. The painting was acquired in 1872 by the Civic Museum of Belluno, where it remained until 1973, when it was among several pictures targeted by thieves. Some were recovered soon afterwards in Austria. The Madonna and Child ended up in the possession of Barbara de Dozsa, who now believes that it belongs to her, partly because her deceased former husband, Baron de Dozsa, bought it in good faith in 1973. Until their divorce, they kept it at their 16th-century Norfolk home, East Barsham Manor in Fakenham, which Henry VIII is said to have described as his 'small country palace'. In 2017, De Dosza tried to sell the painting through a regional auction house, but it was spotted by someone linked to the Belluno museum, who confirmed that it is on the 'most wanted' lists of police forces, including Interpol and the Italian Carabinieri. Due to delays caused by the Covid lockdown, the Italian authorities were unable to supply relevant documents requested by the British police, and so the painting was simply handed back to De Dozsa in 2020. Christopher Marinello, a specialist art lawyer, has tried repeatedly to persuade her to return it to its rightful owner. 'It's the right thing to do,' he said. But she has cited the Limitation Act 1980, which states that someone who buys stolen goods can be recognised as the legal owner if the purchase was 'unconnected to the theft' after more than six years. Marinello said: 'Her first argument was that when the British police gave her the painting back, they gave her good title. So I wrote to the police, and they sent her a formal letter saying 'by no means do we convey title to the painting'.' Asked why the police did not just hand it back to Italy if it was stolen, he said: 'It's a good question. It just shows the failure of law enforcement to help the Italians out. The UK police said that this woman didn't commit a crime, so we're not going to treat it as a criminal matter. It's a civil case.' Related: Storied Titian painting found at London bus stop after theft goes to auction Carlo Cavalli of the museum wrote to her: 'The fact that the painting has been given back to you doesn't mean you have the title.' Marinello is the founder of Art Recovery International, which focuses on stolen or looted art and is based in London, Venice and New York. His previous recoveries include a Matisse painting that was stolen in 1987 from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art and whose whereabouts had been shrouded in mystery for 25 years until it surfaced in London. He believes there is a moral argument for De Dozsa to return the painting – particularly as he has understood from her that she does not even like it enough to hang it on her walls. He is not working for a fee and is driven only by a belief that it belongs to the people of Belluno, from where his own family originated. De Dozsa had argued that, as well as the cost of storage and insurance, she had to pay £6,000 in legal fees to resolve this problem. Marinello claimed he understood from her that if he could reimburse those fees she would return the painting. After securing permission from the Italian police, he found an insurance company that would donate the £6,000 – only for her to allegedly change her mind. He said: 'Her husband could not have paid more than a couple of hundred back in 1973. It's only worth maybe £60,000 to £80,000 now. She refuses to cooperate unless she gets paid the full value, but she can never sell the painting. No legitimate auction house will ever touch it … the Carabinieri have it on their database and will never take it off. As soon as that painting goes to Italy, it's going to be seized.' Norfolk constabulary said: 'Norfolk police have been advised by the UKCA [UK Central Authority] to release the painting to Mrs De Dozsa given several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation. We have returned the painting but would not, as the police, return this in a judicial capacity in terms of awarding legal title to the painting.' De Dozsa declined to comment.
The Guardian
10-03-2025
- The Guardian
Norfolk woman refuses to hand over 16th-century Italian painting identified as stolen
A 16th-century Madonna and Child painting disappeared without a trace after it was stolen from a museum in northern Italy more than half a century ago. Now, having surfaced in Britain, it is in the possession of a woman in Norfolk, who is refusing to return it – even though it is listed on police stolen art databases. It was painted by Antonio Solario, an Italian who is represented in the National Gallery in London and whose patrons included a Bristol cloth merchant who traded with Italy. The painting was acquired in 1872 by the Civic Museum of Belluno, where it remained until 1973, when it was among several pictures targeted by thieves. Some were recovered soon afterwards in Austria. The Madonna and Child ended up in the possession of Barbara de Dozsa, who now believes that it belongs to her, partly because her deceased former husband, Baron de Dozsa, bought it in good faith in 1973. Until their divorce, they kept it at their 16th-century Norfolk home, East Barsham Manor in Fakenham, which Henry VIII is said to have described as his 'small country palace'. In 2017, De Dosza tried to sell the painting through a regional auction house, but it was spotted by someone linked to the Belluno museum, who confirmed that it is on the 'most wanted' lists of police forces, including Interpol and the Italian Carabinieri. Due to delays caused by the Covid lockdown, the Italian authorities were unable to supply relevant documents requested by the British police, and so the painting was simply handed back to De Dozsa in 2020. Christopher Marinello, a specialist art lawyer, has tried repeatedly to persuade her to return it to its rightful owner. 'It's the right thing to do,' he said. But she has cited the Limitation Act 1980, which states that someone who buys stolen goods can be recognised as the legal owner if the purchase was 'unconnected to the theft' after more than six years. Marinello said: 'Her first argument was that when the British police gave her the painting back, they gave her good title. So I wrote to the police, and they sent her a formal letter saying 'by no means do we convey title to the painting'.' Asked why the police did not just hand it back to Italy if it was stolen, he said: 'It's a good question. It just shows the failure of law enforcement to help the Italians out. The UK police said that this woman didn't commit a crime, so we're not going to treat it as a criminal matter. It's a civil case.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Carlo Cavalli of the museum wrote to her: 'The fact that the painting has been given back to you doesn't mean you have the title.' Marinello is the founder of Art Recovery International, which focuses on stolen or looted art and is based in London, Venice and New York. His previous recoveries include a Matisse painting that was stolen in 1987 from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art and whose whereabouts had been shrouded in mystery for 25 years until it surfaced in London. He believes there is a moral argument for De Dozsa to return the painting – particularly as he has understood from her that she does not even like it enough to hang it on her walls. He is not working for a fee and is driven only by a belief that it belongs to the people of Belluno, from where his own family originated. De Dozsa had argued that, as well as the cost of storage and insurance, she had to pay £6,000 in legal fees to resolve this problem. Marinello claimed he understood from her that if he could reimburse those fees she would return the painting. After securing permission from the Italian police, he found an insurance company that would donate the £6,000 – only for her to allegedly change her mind. He said: 'Her husband could not have paid more than a couple of hundred back in 1973. It's only worth maybe £60,000 to £80,000 now. She refuses to cooperate unless she gets paid the full value, but she can never sell the painting. No legitimate auction house will ever touch it … the Carabinieri have it on their database and will never take it off. As soon as that painting goes to Italy, it's going to be seized.' Norfolk constabulary said: 'Norfolk police have been advised by the UKCA [UK Central Authority] to release the painting to Mrs De Dozsa given several years have passed and there has been no response from Italian authorities in relation to the investigation. We have returned the painting but would not, as the police, return this in a judicial capacity in terms of awarding legal title to the painting.' De Dozsa declined to comment.
