Stolen Da Vinci masterpiece recovered after four years; owners to put back on display (Roundup)

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 5, 2007, 15:02 GMT

Dutch sand artist Mariaeele Heessels works on her sand sculpture \'Leonardo da Vinci\' at Priwall beach, Travemuende, Germany, 27 June 2007. EPA/WOLFGANG LANGENSTRASSEN

(M&C) - Police announced today they have recovered a stolen Da Vinci masterpiece, four years after its theft from a Scottish castle.

The painting, The Madonna With The Yarnwinder, was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway, in August 2003. It shows the Madonna with the infant Jesus holding a cross-shaped yarnwinder.

Speaking to media, a police spokesman said the painting, valued at close to £25 million, was recovered from a solicitor's office after a multi force operation. Three men from Lancashire and a Glaswegian were arrested.

Detective Chief Inspector Mickey Dalgleish, of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, said to reporters, “We are extremely pleased to recover the painting. Through careful investigations and intelligence-led police work we were able to locate the painting and make four arrests.”

Police added they were always confident of finding the masterpiece.

The four men have been charged with the theft of the painting and will appear in Dumfries Sheriff Court today.

Meanwhile the owners of the painting say they will put it back on public display despite the theft four years ago when thieves posed as tourists.