After more than four years of being missing, a prized 17th-century painting by Salvator Rosa has been recovered and returned to the Christ Church Picture Gallery at the University of Oxford. The Baroque landscape masterpiece, titled A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan, was stolen alongside two other valuable artworks on March 14, 2020.
While Rosa’s painting has been successfully retrieved, the whereabouts of the other stolen pieces, Anthony van Dyck’s A Soldier on Horseback (ca. 1617) and A Boy Drinking (ca. 1580) by Annibale Carracci, remain unknown. These artworks, which have been part of the religious institution’s collection since 1768, hold an estimated combined value of almost $12.4 million (£10 million).
According to reports, a man who had Rosa’s painting contacted Romanian authorities, initiating its recovery. Although the individual had sold the other two stolen artworks, he opted to return A Rocky Coast, with Soldiers Studying a Plan to the authorities. As of now, the man is being treated as a witness and has not been arrested.
Jacqueline Thalmann, curator of the Christ Church Picture Gallery, expressed gratitude to the Romanian authorities and Thames Valley Police for their efforts in retrieving the priceless artwork. She emphasized the significance of the recovered painting, stating that it is a vital part of the gallery’s collection and holds “inestimable” importance to British and European culture.
Investigations into the theft are ongoing, with authorities collaborating with Romanian law enforcement agencies, as well as European Union organizations such as Eurojust and Europol, to gather further information. It is believed that A Soldier on Horseback and A Boy Drinking were sold in Romania and may now be located anywhere in Europe.
Detective Chief Inspector James Mather, the senior investigating officer, urged members of the public with any information regarding the whereabouts of the missing artworks to come forward. Both the Christ Church Picture Gallery and Thames Valley Police have provided an online form for individuals to submit tips, quoting reference number 43200087031.
The return of the Salvator Rosa painting marks a significant milestone in the efforts to recover the stolen artworks and serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and the public in safeguarding cultural heritage.