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Stolen Painting by Erasmus Quellinus II Returns to Chatsworth House

A painting stolen more than 40 years ago has been safely returned to its owner, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, UK, after being spotted at an art auction in France, according to The Art Newspaper.

The recovered painting © Chatsworth House Trust

The oil on wood painting, A Double Portrait of Sir Peter Paul Rubens and Sir Anthony Van Dyck (1640s) by Erasmus Quellinus II (1607-1678) , had been loaned to the Towner Art Gallery in Eastborne, southeast England, as part of an exhibition of works by Anthony Van Dyck.

On 26 May 1979, thieves broke into the gallery and left with the painting. It was presumed lost until 2021, when the Belgian art historian Bert Schepers spotted it for sale at a small regional auction house in Toulon, France, and alerted Chatsworth.

Chatsworth published a short video with Peter Day – now a retired librarian – who organized the 1978 exhibition where the painting was stolen.

This news item was updated in September 2024 to include a video and new details.