The portrait "Roaring Lion" – depicting Churchill with a stern expression – was donated to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in the Canadian capital by the Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh.
The photo was taken by Karsh after Churchill spoke to the Canadian parliament in 1941 and became a symbol of British resistance during World War II.
It was in August 2022 that hotel staff noticed that the portrait, which hung in a reading room next to the main lobby, had been replaced with a forgery.
But now, local police report that with the help of tips from the public and forensic investigations, they have been able to trace the stolen portrait to Genoa, Italy. Moreover, they have found the culprit – a 43-year-old man living 37 miles west of Ottawa.
Hotel manager Genevieve Dumas says it is a relief that the portrait will now be returned to its rightful home.
This portrait is not just an irreplaceable work of art, but also a significant part of our hotel's history, she says.
The man was arrested in April and is charged with theft, forgery, and receiving stolen goods.
