Stolen Churchill Portrait Returns to Canada After Two-Year Odyssey
A stolen portrait of Winston Churchill, known as “The Roaring Lion,” has been returned to Canada after a two-year international investigation. The iconic photograph, taken by famed photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was recovered in Italy and formally handed over to Canadian authorities, The Associated Press reports.
The ceremony took place at the Canadian Embassy in Rome, where Italian Carabinieri police presented the portrait to Canadian Ambassador Elissa Goldberg. Goldberg praised the collaborative efforts of Italian and Canadian investigators, stating that the recovery was a testament to their dedication and cooperation.
The portrait, originally gifted to the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa by Karsh and his wife, was stolen from the hotel between Christmas 2021 and January 2022. A forgery was left in its place, a swap discovered months later by a hotel worker.
The investigation led authorities to Nicola Cassinelli, a lawyer in Genoa, Italy, who purchased the portrait at a Sotheby’s online auction in May 2022. After being contacted by the auction house in October, Cassinelli learned of the theft investigation and promptly agreed to return the portrait to the hotel.
“I immediately decided to return it to the Chateau Laurier, because I think that if Karsh donated it to the hotel, it means he really wanted it to stay there, for the particular significance this hotel had for him, and for his wife too,” Cassinelli told The Associated Press.
The portrait, a defining image of Churchill captured during his wartime visit to Canada, is considered a historic treasure and is now set to be displayed once again at the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Canadian police have charged a 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ontario, with stealing and trafficking the portrait. He faces charges including forgery, theft over $5,000, and trafficking in property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000.
Geneviève Dumas, general manager of the Fairmont Château Laurier, expressed immense gratitude for the recovery of the stolen portrait.
“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everybody involved in solving this case, and ensuring the safe return of this priceless piece of history.”
