The famous portrait of Winston Churchill that was stolen from the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa has been found in Italy.
Ottawa police investigators will travel to Rome later this month to retrieve the “Roaring Lion,” a 1941 portrait by photographer Yousuf Karsh.
“Once in the custody of the Ottawa police, the portrait will be ready for the final leg of its journey back to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, where it will once again be displayed,” police said in a statement, calling it a “remarkable historical” portrait.
“The Roaring Lion” was stolen from the Château Laurier sometime between December 25, 2021 and January 6, 2022, and replaced with a copy. The theft was not discovered until months later, in August, when a hotel employee noticed that the frame was not hung properly and that it looked different from the others.
The portrait was later sold through a London auction house to a private buyer in Italy. Police say neither the seller nor the buyer knew it had been stolen.
“Thanks to public information, scientific analysis and international cooperation, investigators found the individual responsible for the theft. In addition, the open search and collaboration with other agencies were essential in identifying the suspect,” police said.
Police arrested a 43-year-old Powassan, Ont., man in April and charged him with theft and trafficking.
The man, whose name is protected by a publication ban, faces charges that include counterfeiting, theft over $5,000 and trafficking in property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Ottawa police worked with Italian authorities and the buyer of the portrait, a citizen of Genoa, to arrange the formal handover, which will take place later this month.
The famous image was taken by Karsh during Churchill’s visit to the Canadian Parliament in December 1941.