University of Oxford's Christ Church Picture Gallery Grateful for Retrieval of Salvator Rosa's Artwork

COURTESY OF THE CHRIST CHURCH PICTURE GALLERY

A 17th-century painting, Salvator Rosa's Baroque landscape "A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan," stolen from the Christ Church Picture Gallery at the University of Oxford over four years ago, was recently recovered in Romania.

The theft occurred on March 14, 2020, alongside two other artworks: Anthony van Dyck’s "A Soldier on Horseback" and Annibale Carracci's "A Boy Drinking." Both remain missing. The stolen paintings had been on display at the religious institution since 1768.

The estimated value of all three artworks is almost $12.4 million (£10 million).
 

▲ Salvatore Rosa, A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan. ca. 1640s. / COURTESY OF THE CHRIST CHURCH PICTURE GALLERYThe gallery reported that a man in possession of Rosa's oil landscape contacted Romanian police, returning it to authorities. The man is considered a witness and has not been arrested.

Christ Church Picture Gallery curator Jacqueline Thalmann expressed gratitude to Romanian authorities and Thames Valley Police for the recovery. Thalmann emphasized the significance of the stolen paintings to British and European culture.

Investigators, including Romanian authorities, Thames Valley Police, Eurojust, and Europol, are collaborating to gather further information.

Authorities believe the remaining stolen paintings may have been sold in Romania and could be located anywhere in Europe.

Christ Church Picture Gallery and Thames Valley Police urge the public to provide any information regarding the missing artworks through an online form, quoting reference 43200087031.

The recovery of Rosa's painting was first reported by BBC News.

Sayart

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com