Additional Coverage:
A cherished portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, which had been displayed for many years at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, Canada, was discovered to be a copy in 2022. Now, over two years later, Ottawa Police have located the original photograph in Italy. The buyer who unknowingly purchased the stolen photo has agreed to return it to Canada during a ceremony in Rome.
The discrepancy was first noticed by a hotel employee in August 2022, who observed that the frame did not match others in the collection. Upon consulting Yousuf Karsh’s manager, it was confirmed that the signature on the photo was a forgery. The iconic image, known as “The Roaring Lion,” was taken by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh in 1941, famously capturing Churchill’s scowl after Karsh removed the prime minister’s cigar.
Hotel manager Geneviève Dumas expressed her dismay at the theft, stating the Chateau Laurier’s pride in housing such a valuable collection since 1998. The hotel called on the public via social media to share any information with Ottawa Police.
Karsh, who became one of the world’s leading portrait photographers, had deep connections to the hotel. He and his wife even resided at the Chateau Laurier for two decades, and he ran his studio there from 1972 to 1992.
The police investigation revealed the portrait had been stolen between December 25, 2021, and January 6, 2022, and thereafter sold through a London auction house to an unknowing buyer in Italy. Using public tips, forensic analysis, and international collaboration, police tracked down the suspect, a 43-year-old man from Ottawa, who was arrested on April 25, 2024, and charged with theft and trafficking.
The buyer from Genoa has coordinated with Italian authorities to return the photograph, and an official handover to Ottawa Police in Rome is planned for later this month. Once back in Ottawa, the portrait will be returned to its rightful place at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, ready to reclaim its status as a significant historical artifact.