The New York Post reports that a $1.5 million painting that was illegally exported from Italy has been forfeited to the US Government:
“Leda e il Cigno,” by Italian Renaissance artist Lelio Orsi, was ordered forfeited to the US government after more than two years of legal wrangling by the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office.
The 16th-century, oil-on-copper work was auctioned off in Manhattan in 2008, but the winning bidder canceled the deal after learning that Italian authorities were investigating its disappearance from that country. […]
Court papers say Eduardo Testori — who bought the painting from an art dealer in 2003 — and two unnamed individuals were “involved in the importation” through JFK Airport in late 2006.
Magnifico Smuggled Art Home (NY Post)
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Note to British Museum
First, the Chinese Bronze's; Now, Italian Books?
