Oct 5, 2007, 14:47 GMT
London - A rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci that was feared lost forever has been recovered in Glasgow, Scotland, where four men will appear in court Friday in connection with the theft in 2003, police said.
The masterpiece, Madonna with the Yarnwinder, had been at the centre of a worldwide search since it was stolen from a private castle in August 2003.
It is estimated to be worth at least 30 million pounds (60 million dollars).
The theft, carried out in broad daylight, was considered tragic by art experts because of the rarity of works by Lenonardo, very few of which remain in private hands.
Police said four men were arrested in Glasgow, Scotland's second city, Thursday afternoon while meeting for apparent negotiations about a sale.
The painting was recovered at the scene. Art experts confirmed the painting was the one stolen in August 2003.
The artwork was taken from Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill, in Dumfries and Galloway. It was recovered at the scene of the arrest.
'We are extremely pleased to recover the Madonna with the Yarnwinder painting,' chief investigating officer Mickey Dalgleish said.
The theft sparked a worldwide search, with the FBI putting the painting on its list of 10 most wanted pieces of stolen artwork.
It had been in the family of the Duke of Buccleuch, in Drumlanrig Castle, near Glasgow, for almost 200 years and had been admired by thousands of visitors to the castle every year.
The Duke of Buccleuch died only last month, aged 83, without knowing what happened to the valuable painting.
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