After more than half a century, a stolen Renaissance painting has finally returned home to Italy. *Madonna with Child*, a tempera-on-wood masterpiece by Venetian painter Antonio Solario,
was stolen in 1973 from the Civic Museum of Belluno, located about 100 kilometers north of Venice.
Solario—also known as Antonio de Solario or by his nickname “Lo Zingaro” (“The Gypsy”)—was an Italian Renaissance artist known for his religious works, including frescoes of St. Benedict in Naples and parts of the Withypool Altarpiece held at London’s National Gallery. The “Madonna with Child” features a contemplative Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, set against a background reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Virgin of the Rocks”.
The painting vanished in a 1973 heist and was listed in Interpol’s stolen art database. Decades later, it resurfaced unexpectedly in the UK when Barbara de Dozsa offered it for auction, unaware of its troubled past. She had inherited it from her late husband, who had purchased it in good faith from an Austrian dealer shortly after the theft.
Initially, De Dozsa considered retaining the artwork under a UK law that protects buyers who unknowingly purchase stolen property after six years. However, her stance changed following discussions with Christopher A. Marinello, an art lawyer and founder of Art Recovery International (ARI), a UK-based organization specializing in the recovery of stolen and looted art.
"While the U.K. Limitations Act supported her claim, the fact that the painting was listed with Interpol and the Carabinieri meant it could never be publicly displayed or sold without risk of seizure," Marinello explained. “When it comes to returning stolen art and doing the right thing, I can be annoyingly persistent.”
After initial resistance, De Dozsa decided to return the painting. “Ultimately, it was Barbara’s choice, and she chose wisely,” said Marinello. “Her kindness restored my faith in those who unknowingly acquire stolen works.”
The painting’s return was marked by an emotional ceremony at the Civic Museum in Belluno, attended by local officials and museum staff. “Returning this painting means giving back a fragment of our identity, history, and soul,” said Belluno’s mayor, Oscar De Pellegrin.
“Madonna with Child” is now officially back on display in its rightful place at the Belluno Civic Museum. Photo by BL10, Wikimedia commons; © Art Recovery International
