Stolen Dali painting, thought to be 1954 original, seized in Lebanon
Lebanese police have say they have recovered what is believed to be an original portrait by world-famous Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali, arresting four suspected thieves as they were displaying the painting in a bid to sell it, according to RT.
In a statement Wednesday, Lebanese Internal Security Forces announced the artwork had been seized on October 13 following a large-scale investigation carried out by the country’s judicial police unit dealing with international crime. The operation was conducted in line with “the fight against crimes of theft and trafficking antiquities,” it said.
Four men, three Syrians and one Lebanese national, were detained during the raid. Police recovered what they believe to be “The Portrait of Mrs. James Reeves,” painted by the iconic Spanish artist in 1954. The men were placed in custody.
The suspects “were working on the display of the painting” with an intention to sell it when the police swooped on them, the statement read.
No details have been given as to when the artwork went missing, with the authorities saying that it had been stolen from a neighboring country, without specifying.