Picasso print stolen from Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 found by landlord while cleaning apartment
Torero print, one of 30 known to exist signed by Picasso, was stolen from Bill DeLind’s gallery in 2018 Bill DeLind thought the Picasso print that was stolen from his Milwaukee gallery in 2018 was gone forever. But then police called last week and asked him to look at an artwork that a local landlord found while cleaning out a vacant apartment. DeLind immediately recognized the stolen Torero…
A Picasso print stolen from Milwaukee art gallery in 2018 has been recovered by the landlord who found it while cleaning an apartment. Bill DeLind, owner of DeLind Fine Art Appraisals, thought the lost artwork was gone forever. However, police recently contacted him after a landlord turned over a framed print to authorities. The painting, one of only 30 known to exist signed by Picasso, was instantly recognized by DeLind.
The sticker from his business was still attached to the back of the frame, just as it had been when stolen. The landlord who found the artwork, Tim Dertz, showed it to an antique dealer who identified it as a Picasso. The Milwaukee police department stated that the six-year statute of limitations for theft and property crimes still applies to the case, though the investigation is ongoing.
The piece was initially appraised at between $35,000 and $50,000 in 2018, and DeLind believes its value may now be closer to $50,000 given its unique history. DeLind's former business partner, who died in February, had been devastated by the 2018 theft and had repeatedly asked police to publicize the case annually in hopes of recovering the Picasso.
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