In 1969, New Jersey Mobsters stole an 18th Century British Painting. About half- a- century later, the painting was returned to its rightful owners.They purchased it for $7,500 at the time of the Great Depression according to statements released by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday.
John Opie’s Painting, “The Schoolmistress” is a ‘sister-work’ of a painting housed in the Tate Britain Art Gallery in London. It is believed that the painting was stolen with the aid of a former New Jersey Lawmaker. It was then passed on by organised crime members for several years until it came back to Southern-Utah City Of St.George.
In 1989, Utah Resident purchased a house from Joseph Covello Sr, a convicted mobster often linked to the Gambino Family. The painting was included for sale, said the FBI. When the purchaser passed away in 2020, an accounting firm was soughting an appraisal for the painting and discovered that it was a stolen piece. “When I saw it, it certainly appeared to be an 18th Century painting. It was a well-done painting,” Salt Lake-based art appraiser Emily Stauffer told a CBS affiliate.
On January 11, the painting was returned to 96-Year Old Dr.Francis Wood of Newark. He was the son of the painting’s original owner, Dr.Earl Wood. FBI Special Agent Gary France said “This piece of art, what a history it’s had,”. The beautiful art piece had its own journey and came back to the people it belonged to. Opie often drew paintings determining the elite and luxury life of the British Royals, however this piece of art showcases scenarios from our day to day lives.
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