An iconic painting by Austrian art nouveau master Gustav Klimt was discovered this past Tuesday– over two decades after its theft. The long-lost piece titled "Portrait of a Lady" was created during the last years of Klimt's life and is reportedly worth $66 million.
Authentication checks are currently underway on the recovered work. And while it is still unclear whether the retrieved painting is the original, gallery director Massimo Ferrari is reportedly confident that the original has been found. Speaking to the Italian newspaper La Libertà, Ferrari said "We've got some positive signs, we're optimistic." Claiming that "the stamps and wax behind the picture are original."
The work was found hidden in the walls of Italian gallery, the Galleria d'arte Moderna Ricci Oddi. According to the BBC, a worker clearing ivy from the gallery's walls discovered a metal panel hiding the painting, which had been wrapped in a black plastic bag.
The Italian gallery acquired 'Portrait of a Lady' back in 1925. The painting was stolen on 22 February 1997 amid preparations for a special Klimt exhibition. Local authorities suspect that thieves attempted to hide the painting in order to retrieve it after media attention had dispelled.
Keep it here for more updates as the story develops.
