Ever since a burglar smashed his way into Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art in the early hours of May 11, 1987, Henri Matisse's “Le Jardin†has been missing. Now the painting, valued at $1 million has been recovered and will be returned to the museum.
Ray Wells Henri Matisse's “Le Jardin,†stolen from Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art in 1987, has been recovered.The painting was brought to the attention of Christopher A. Marinello, an art recovery specialist and a lawyer for the Art Loss Register, the international private database of stolen, missing and looted artwork.
Last month, Mr. Marinello said that Charles Roberts, a British art dealer, searched the register's database while deciding whether to handle the sale of the Matisse and found the match. Mr. Roberts said he had obtained the painting from an 85-year-old man, Mr. Marinello said. It is not clear where that man had gotten the painting. Mr. Marinello then negotiated the return of the painting, which is being held in London until its return to Sweden.
“I'm elated,†Mr. Marinello said in a telephone interview from London. “These things sometimes take two years. It's rare that I'm able to have a recovery in a three-week period, let alone over a holiday.â€
Any further legal action would be in the hands of the Swedish authorities, Mr. Marinello said.
