An art historian from the University of Exeter solved the 70 -year -old mystery about the theft of an original work by Flemish painter Anthony Van Dick, from a mansion in Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom.

The portrait of Wolfgang William of Palatinatos NeoDurg was stolen in 1951 by the Botton mansion, the residence of Duke of Bekleo and Queensbury. It was part of a collection – described as “puzzle from which a central piece” – sketches, 17th -century oil paintings that adorned the property since 1682.

But the disappearance of the artwork was noted only in 1957, when Mary Montagia Douglas Scott of Bekleu and Queensberry visited one of the Harvard University galleries – and saw it among exhibits.

Now, thanks to research by Dr. Meredith Heil, a lecturer of art history and visual culture at the University of Exeter, was resolved the puzzle on how the sketch arrived in the US through distinguished members of the art world – including Christie’s auction house in London.

Dr. Heil, according to the BBC noted how through “New archival research in the United Kingdom, the US and Canada” was able to “detect the table movements in three generations”. He said that “he passed through the hands of experts, conservationists, auctions, traders and collectors from London to Toronto.”

“Sources not only reveal a dynamic picture of events as they evolve,” added, “But they emphasize the factors that have contributed to the success of the theft, including the conceptual and material complexity of Van Dick’s iconographic work – and the boldness of a thief covered by respect for know -how.”

The thief, Dr. Heil said, was Leonard Gerald Guin Ramsay, publisher of The Connoisseur and a member of the Antiquities Society.

Ramsay visited Button in July 1951 with a photographer to collect material for an article on the magazine’s book. Among the items housed in the property for guard during the war were the 37 wooden dashboard from the unfinished Van Dick work.

Each painting contained a sketch of a prominent prince, scholar, military leader or artist. The correspondence between Ramsay and historical art Ludwig Goldseder revealed that the former intended to sell two paintings because he needed the money to buy new curtains. According to the research, art historian provided a certification document and the image was anonymous to Christie’s for 189 English pounds in April 1954.

Dr. Heill found the sale of portrait, less than a year later, to a New York art dealer before being found to a second merchant who sold it for $ 2,700 to Dr. Lilian Malkov, who in turn donated her to Fogg Art Museum.

In her work, Dr. Hale refers to the correspondence between the Museum’s artistic director, Professor John Koulitz and Ramsay, when the Duchess raised the theme of the artwork. Ramsay claimed to have bought the project from a market in Hemel Hebst and also tried to question his authenticity.

With doubts growing, the museum returned the picture to Dr. Malkov in 1960 and after her death in 1981, was donated to the Toronto University Museum of Art. The researcher said the findings helped “To answer the question of whether this was the picture stolen from Botton.” The Executive Committee of the University of Toronto has decided to return the project to the Duke of Boukleou, 74 years after the theft.