A stolen portrait of Winston Churchill, famously known as 'The Roaring Lion,' has been successfully retrieved and returned to its rightful place at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The portrait, captured by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, was stolen and replaced with a forgery sometime between Christmas Day 2021 and Jan. 6, 2022. The swap went unnoticed until August when a hotel worker discovered the discrepancy in the frame.
The hotel's general manager, Genevieve Dumas, unveiled the portrait in a ceremony, ensuring that it is now securely in place. The iconic portrait of Churchill, which adorns the U.K.'s five-pound banknote, depicts the wartime prime minister in a powerful stance, staring directly into the camera.
Yousuf Karsh had gifted the portrait to the hotel where he had lived and worked, making it a significant piece of history. The portrait had been unknowingly sold through an auction house in London to a private buyer, who was unaware of its stolen status.
A man from Powassan, Ontario, has been charged with forgery, theft, and trafficking in connection with the stolen portrait. The return of the portrait was a highly anticipated event, with a ceremony attended by various dignitaries, including Ottawa's mayor.
Nicola Cassinelli, the buyer of the stolen artwork, expressed the profound significance of the portrait, emphasizing its representation of the triumph of good over evil. Despite the privilege of having the portrait in his home, Cassinelli acknowledged that 'The Roaring Lion' truly belongs to the public.
