Stolen Churchill Photo Recovered in Italy
A 1941 photograph of Winston Churchill, known as 'The Roaring Lion' and taken by Yousuf Karsh, has been recovered in Genoa, Italy, after being stolen from an Ottawa hotel. A 43-year-old man from Ontario has been arrested in connection with the theft. Canadian investigators will travel to Rome to retrieve the artwork, which will return to the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa.
A 1941 photograph of Winston Churchill, known as 'The Roaring Lion' and taken by Yousuf Karsh, has been recovered in Genoa, Italy, after being stolen from the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel in Ottawa.
Ottawa police discovered the photograph in the possession of an unwitting private buyer.
A 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ontario, has been arrested in connection with the theft and faces numerous charges including forgery, theft, trafficking, and damage to property.
The photo, one of the most famous portraits of the British wartime prime minister, vanished amid Covid lockdowns between December 2021 and January 2022.
It was noticed missing on 19 August 2022 when a hotel staff member discovered it had been replaced with a fake.
Canadian investigators, aided by public tips and forensic analysis, will travel to Rome to retrieve the artwork and return it to Ottawa, where it will be displayed again.
Ottawa police discovered the photograph in the possession of an unwitting private buyer.
A 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ontario, has been arrested in connection with the theft and faces numerous charges including forgery, theft, trafficking, and damage to property.
The photo, one of the most famous portraits of the British wartime prime minister, vanished amid Covid lockdowns between December 2021 and January 2022.
It was noticed missing on 19 August 2022 when a hotel staff member discovered it had been replaced with a fake.
Canadian investigators, aided by public tips and forensic analysis, will travel to Rome to retrieve the artwork and return it to Ottawa, where it will be displayed again.
