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Published image, EPA
It is not known when the painting was stolen, as no one reported the loss
Italian police found a 500-year-old painting in an apartment and returned it to a museum whose employees were unaware it had been stolen.
The painting, a replica of Salvatore Mundi’s (Savior of the World) painting allegedly painted by Leonardo da Vinci, was found on Saturday in a locker in a bedroom in Naples.
It is believed that one of Da Vinci’s students painted the replica.
Police arrested the 36-year-old apartment owner on suspicion of receiving stolen items.
“The painting was found on Saturday thanks to an intelligent and tireless security operation,” Naples prosecutor Giovanni Melillo told AFP news agency.
The replica of the Savior of the World was part of the collection of works of art in the Duma Museum in the Church of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples.
But the prosecution said museum officials were not aware of the theft of the painting because “the room in which the painting is kept has not been opened for three months” due to the Corona virus pandemic.
It is not known exactly when the theft took place, as no one was informed of the loss of the painting, but the museum said it was in their possession until January.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances of the theft, but there is no indication that the museum was broken into.
“It makes sense that the crime of theft was committed by an organization working in the international trade in artistic pieces,” Melillo said.
Published image, EPA
The artist is still unknown, but it is believed that he was a disciple of Leonardo da Vinci
The artist who painted this painting is still unknown today, but some experts believe that Giacomo Alebrandi, a student taught by Da Vinci, may have painted it in the early 16th century.
The painting shows Christ with one hand raised, while the other holds a glass ball.
The mystery doesn’t end there, as there is disagreement over the original painting and whether Da Vinci painted it.
Da Vinci died in 1519 and less than 20 of his paintings remain.
The original Savior of the World painting underwent a major restoration and was scratched during restoration efforts.
Despite this, its value to buyers did not decline, and the paint became the most expensive of all time when it was auctioned for $ 450 million in 2017.
At the time, the anonymous buyer participated in a telephone tender that lasted about 20 minutes.
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