The FBI says it has recovered a painting that was stolen from a Newark home in 1969.
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(New York, NY) – It took authorities over 50 years, and the search crisscrossed three different states. But federal agents have located an extremely valuable 18th century English painting that was originally stolen in New Jersey. In 1969, the painting called “The Schoolmistress” by John Opie was pilfered from Dr. John Wood’s home in Newark. Now, it’s back home.
The painting has a sister piece at London’s Tate Gallery. After being stolen from Newark, FBI agents searched for the painting in Utah, Florida, and in the Garden State. At the time, the working theory was that mobsters stole the painting at the alleged direction of late lawmaker Anthony Imperiale. The FBI says it thinks the painting bounced around between various members of organized crime organizations, before it finally resurfaced in 2020. Wood’s 96-year-old son now has the painting back. His dad had purchased it during the Great Depression.
