NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTING STOLEN IN MISSOURI IN 1973 FOUND IN LOS ANGELES

St. Louis - Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Art Crime Team (ACT) have located an original Norman Rockwell painting, Russian Schoolroom, stolen during a late night burglary in Clayton, Missouri in June 1973, announced Roland J. Corvington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's St. Louis, Missouri, Field Office and J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.

At the time of theft, the painting was part of a Norman Rockwell Exhibit being sponsored by the Chicago's Circle Galleries, now known as Arts International Galleries. At the time of the theft, the Russian Schoolroom, oil on canvas, measured 16" X 37", and was presented in a 2' x 4' frame of dull gold-white molding. This painting is also referred to as The Russian Classroom or Russian Schoolchildren. Records for the Russian Schoolroom indicate that the painting's location was unknown between 1973, after the theft, and 1988. In October 1988, Russian Schoolroom was sold at auction in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2004, Agents with the FBI's ACT determined the painting had been advertised for sale at a Norman Rockwell exhibit in New York in 1989.

Acting on this information, the FBI's ACT in St. Louis initiated a "cold case" investigation to locate and recover the Russian Schoolroom. Investigative leads were followed by FBI Agents in New York and Los Angeles Field Offices to identify the current whereabouts of the painting. A description and photograph of the painting was posted on the FBI's Art Crime Team's website at www.fbi.gov. While the FBI's ACT were following leads to find the painting, the staff of motion picture Director and Producer, Steven Spielberg, learned that the painting, which was in Mr. Spielberg's collection, was stolen after they viewed an FBI theft notice. Mr. Spielberg's staff immediately used art market channels to bring the painting's current location to the FBI's attention. Mr. Spielberg purchased the painting in 1989 from a legitimate dealer and did not become aware that it was a stolen work of art until last week. The Los Angeles-based ACT agent and an art expert from the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California, inspected the painting and determined the painting's authenticity this morning. Mr. Spielberg is cooperating fully with the FBI and will retain possession of the Russian Schoolroom until its disposition can be determined. The investigation is continuing.

For more information about the FBI's Art Crime Team and stolen paintings, visit the FBI's website at www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/artheft/arttheft.htm.


FBI St. Louis - 341 231-4324 FBI Los Angeles - 310 477-6565