Why a British owner refuses to return a stolen Renaissance painting

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 arka 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 Arka 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.

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.”