A 16th-century painting of the Madonna and Child, created by Italian artist Antonio Solario, vanished from a museum in northern Italy over half a century ago. It has now reappeared in Britain in the hands of a woman in Norfolk, who is refusing to return it despite its listing on police stolen art databases.
The painting was originally acquired by the Civic Museum of Belluno in 1872 and remained there until 1973 when it was stolen. Some of the stolen works were later recovered in Austria, but the Madonna and Child ended up with Barbara de Dozsa. She claims it legally belongs to her based on her deceased ex-husband, Baron de Dozsa’s good faith purchase in 1973. They kept it at their Norfolk estate, East Barsham Manor, described by Henry VIII as his “small country palace.”
In 2017, attempts to sell it at a regional auction house were foiled when connections to the Belluno museum confirmed its status as a wanted item by law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and Italian Carabinieri. While Italian authorities faced delays in providing necessary documents due to the COVID lockdown, the painting was returned to De Dozsa in 2020.
The specialist art lawyer Christopher Marinello has made multiple unsuccessful attempts to persuade De Dozsa to return the painting. She has cited the Limitation Act 1980, which allows someone who purchases stolen goods in good faith after more than six years to be recognized as the legal owner. Marinello, who is not working for a fee, points to a moral obligation and the fact that De Dozsa apparently does not like the painting enough to display it.
The situation highlights the complexities and challenges in recovering stolen artworks, with issues of legal ownership, international cooperation, and the role of law enforcement complications evident in this case. Despite offers to reimburse De Dozsa for her expenses, she remains unwilling to return the painting.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/10/norfolk-woman-refuses-to-hand-over-16th-century-italian-painting-identified-as-stolen
