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.”
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.
