[CPProt.net] Art Loss Register recovery: Stolen painting returned to Argentine officials

[Museum Security Network / Cultural Property Protection Net (Ton Cremers)]

Stolen painting returned to Argentine officials
  

May 10, 2005, 3:21 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) _ A painting stolen from a home in Argentina and recovered six
years later in New York was formally returned Tuesday to the Argentine
government. 

The work, "La Pica" or "Corrida De Torros," painted by the late
post-Impressionist Pedro Figari and depicting a bullfight, was signed over
to Argentina's consul general to New York at a ceremony in Manhattan. 

After the painting was stolen in 1997, a legitimate purchaser bought it at
auction in Uruguay, then consigned it to Christie's auction house in New
York for sale in 2003, authorities said. 

The Art Loss Register noticed the painting stolen and reported it to
authorities. The legitimate buyer paid $80,000, money he is not likely to
recover, officials said. 

There are no suspects in the original theft, officials with U.S.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said. 

Argentine officials told reporters the painting would be returned to its
original owner, identified as Santiago Luis Sanchez Elia.