Custody Dispute Erupts Over Stolen 16th-Century Italian Painting Found in England

A Norfolk widow refuses to return Antonio Solario's 'Madonna and Child' to an Italian museum, citing legal ownership claims decades after its theft.

The painting, 'Madonna and Child' by Antonio Solario, was stolen from the Civic Museum of Belluno, Italy, in 1973 and later purchased by Baron de Dozsa in England.
Now in the possession of Barbara de Dozsa, the baron's ex-wife, the artwork resurfaced when she attempted to sell it at an auction in 2017.
Efforts by art recovery lawyer Christopher Marinello to return the painting to Belluno have been met with resistance, as de Dozsa claims legal ownership under U.K. law.
Norfolk police returned the painting to de Dozsa in 2020, citing a lack of response from Italian authorities and the absence of criminal charges against her.
The painting, valued between £60,000 and £100,000, holds cultural significance for Belluno due to Solario's regional ties, despite its modest monetary worth.