Peruvian Church Recovers Stolen Paintings: A Restoration Tale
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Two 18th-century paintings stolen from a historic church on the shores of Lake Titicaca were recently returned to Peruvian authorities in New York. The paintings, “Flight to Egypt” and “The Pilgrim Virgin,” were seized last autumn and had been stolen over a decade ago from the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Juli, Peru.
Both paintings belong to the colonial-era Cuzco School of painting, known for its ornate style and Catholic themes used in converting the region’s Inca population. In addition to these two paintings, thieves had also taken six other paintings and various ritual objects from the same church in 2012.
The successful recovery and repatriation of the paintings were a result of collaboration between Peruvian government authorities, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, and US Homeland Security Investigations. This joint effort highlights the commitment to combatting the trafficking of cultural heritage and underscores the ongoing importance of protecting stolen art.
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Elara Voss, graduated from the Royal College of Art in London with a Master’s in Fine Art. She specializes in contemporary sculpture and installation art, exploring themes of nature and human interaction. Elara’s works have been featured in several group exhibitions across Europe, and she is currently working on her first solo show.