A valuable 17th-century artwork stolen from an Oxford University Gallery has been recovered in Romania, but police continue to search for two other paintings taken in the heist. The theft occurred in March 2020 when thieves broke into the Christ Church Picture Gallery, stealing three prized paintings from the walls.
The stolen artwork included Salvator Rosa’s “A Rocky Coast, With Soldiers Studying a Plan,” Sir Anthony van Dyck’s “A Soldier on Horseback,” and Annibale Carracci’s “A Boy Drinking.” The haul was collectively worth around £10 million.
Thames Valley Police announced that the Salvator Rosa painting had been returned with the help of law enforcement in Europe. A man in possession of the painting contacted Romanian police after realizing it was stolen and had already sold the other two artworks.
The man is being treated as a witness, and police hope forensic evidence gathered from the returned painting will aid in identifying the thieves and locating the remaining two pieces.
Detective Chief Inspector James Mather expressed optimism about DNA evidence obtained from the painting, while experts suggest that stolen artworks often end up in Eastern Europe due to the quick sale and movement out of the original jurisdiction.
Jacqueline Thalmann, curator of Christ Church Picture Gallery, expressed joy at the painting’s return but emphasized the importance of public access to such artworks, stating that they are “public property” meant to be shared and preserved for future generations.
