How was the stolen Klimt painting discovered after 20 years?

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Stolen Klimt Painting Discovered by Chance During Garden Maintenance

A stolen Gustav Klimt painting, "Portrait of a Lady," was discovered by chance over two decades after its disappearance. Gardeners at the Ricci Oddi Gallery of Modern Art in Piacenza, northern Italy, found the artwork on December 11, 2019, while clearing ivy from an external wall. The painting was located within a small ventilation space concealed behind the ivy, wrapped in a black garbage bag and unframed.
Discovery During Garden Work

The painting's recovery occurred incidentally as groundskeepers were tending to the gallery's gardens. While removing dense ivy growth from an exterior wall, they uncovered a hidden ventilation opening. Upon investigation, they found the unframed artwork concealed inside. This discovery happened approximately twenty years after the painting, created between 1916 and 1917, had vanished from the museum in February 1997, during a period when the gallery was closed for renovations.
Confirmation of Authenticity

Following its discovery, extensive scientific tests and expert analysis were conducted to confirm the painting's authenticity. Art expert Guido Cauzzi played a crucial role, meticulously comparing infrared and ultraviolet images of the recovered work with data from tests performed in 1996. The precise correspondence between these comparative images provided definitive proof that the recovered piece was indeed the original "Portrait of a Lady" by Gustav Klimt.
Condition and Value of the Artwork

The condition of the painting was assessed as "relatively good" despite its ordeal over two decades. While it had experienced some challenges, it was deemed to require only routine care and restoration, with no particularly complicated issues identified. The artwork, a century-old Expressionist piece depicting a young woman against an emerald green background, is estimated by the museum to be worth between €60 million and €100 million. Further tests are underway to ascertain if the painting remained in the wall cavity since its initial theft or if it was hidden there at a later point.

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How was the stolen Klimt painting discovered after 20 years?

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