Italian Man Who Purchased Churchill Portrait Caught Off Guard by Global Art Scandal

An Italian art collector who purchased a portrait of Winston Churchill was shocked to discover five months later that the solution to a high-profile heist might be hanging in his living room.

Nicola Cassinelli, a lawyer from Genoa, Italy, will be attending a ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Rome next Thursday to celebrate the return of Yousuf Karsh’s signed 1941 photograph of the British leader.

Authorities say that “The Roaring Lion” was stolen from Ottawa’s Chateau Laurier hotel between Christmas Day 2021 and January 6, 2022, and swapped with a replica.

It wasn’t until August that a hotel staff member noticed that the portrait was not hung correctly and looked different from the others.

Cassinelli, a self-described “small-scale art collector,” bought the portrait in May 2022 for 5,292 British pounds in an online Sotheby’s auction.

This renowned image was captured by Karsh during Churchill’s wartime visit to the Canadian Parliament in December 1941.

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In October 2022, Cassinelli received a call from the auction house advising him not to sell or transfer the portrait due to the ongoing investigation in Ottawa.

Unaware of the theft in Canada, Cassinelli expressed his surprise at the news when contacted for an interview on Thursday.

Over a year later, the auction house contacted him again to request his contact information for Canadian authorities who wished to speak with him about the portrait.

Although taken aback by the situation, Cassinelli was excited to realize that he had acquired a special edition of the famous photo that Karsh had presented to the Ottawa hotel where he and his spouse had resided for many years.

He acknowledged that a genuine piece of history was hanging in his living room.

Cassinelli handed over the portrait to Italian law enforcement to collaborate on the case with Canadian officials. Shortly after, Italian investigators confirmed that “my portrait was the one that was stolen almost two years earlier in Canada,” he explained.

While Cassinelli purchased the portrait in good faith, he believed it should be returned to Canada for public enjoyment.

He mentioned that he had been partially reimbursed for the portrait’s cost but emphasized that his financial loss wasn’t a major concern.

“I wanted the ‘Roaring Lion’ to be at his home.”

Upon delivering the portrait to Italian authorities, Cassinelli bought an inexpensive replica of Karsh’s well-known Churchill photo to hang in its place at his residence. Even though it lacks the same historical value, he finds it significant as it serves as a reminder of this peculiar story.

“And it’s a fun topic to discuss with friends and family when we gather for dinner at home,” he added.

This week, Ottawa police announced the arrest of a 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ont., in April, charging him with the theft and trafficking of the Karsh print.

The individual faces charges including forgery, theft over $5,000, and trafficking in property obtained through crime over $5,000.

His attorney, Lawrence Greenspon, mentioned that they have initiated discussions with the Crown regarding a potential resolution of the charges.