London, England – A 16th-century painting stolen over half a century ago has resurfaced, sparking a custody dispute between an English widow and a small Italian museum. The artwork, “Madonna and Child” by Antonio Solario, disappeared in 1973 from the civic museum in Belluno, located in the Dolomite mountains of northern Italy. Following its theft, the painting found its way to the Tudor manor house of Baron de Dozsa in eastern England, according to Christopher Marinello, an expert in recovering stolen and looted art.
Barbara de Dozsa, the former wife of the late baron, is currently in possession of the painting, despite its listing on Interpol’s stolen art database. Marinello, who has a personal connection to the region of Belluno, is determined to repatriate the artwork back to its rightful home. Despite de Dozsa’s admission that she never truly cared for the painting and does not display it due to its associations with her ex-husband, she has refused to relinquish it.
The saga began when Barbara de Dozsa attempted to sell the painting through an auction house in England, prompting its recognition as a stolen piece. Norfolk Constabulary, the local police force, was involved but ultimately returned the painting to de Dozsa as a result of the lack of response from Italian authorities regarding the investigation. Marinello expressed frustration over the stalled efforts to return the painting, emphasizing its significance to the people of Belluno due to Solario’s ties to the area.
While paintings by Solario have garnered substantial sums at auctions, Marinello estimates the value of “Madonna and Child” to be under $128,000. Despite its modest monetary worth, the painting holds historical and sentimental value for the community in Belluno. Marinello’s determination to repatriate the stolen artwork underscores the ongoing battle to preserve cultural heritage and return looted pieces to their rightful owners.