Lichtenstein Painting Missing For 42 Years Finally Returned To Rightful Owner
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A Roy Lichtenstein painting valued at $4 million has been returned to its owner 42 year after it mysteriously disappeared.
The 1961 Pop art painting, titled "Electric Cord," was recovered in July at a New York storage warehouse, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara who investigated the disappearance of the painting.
At a press conference with the Bharara and FBI, the painting was returned to Barbara Castelli, whose late art dealer husband sent the work to an art restorer in January 1970. The painting had been missing since then.
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the painting was kept by the art restorer and given to an employee, who then tried to sell the painting a few years ago.
A missing notice for the painting prevented the sale of the painting and helped facilitate its return to the rightful owner, Bharara said.
Castelli said at the news conference that she plans to hang the painting in her Manhattan home.
The Roy Lichtenstein Foundation published an image of the painting on its 2006 holiday greeting card, which asked the art community to help locate the missing work.
The DA's office did not say whether criminal charges may be brought against whoever is responsible for the disappearance of the painting.
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