Stolen painting returns home after 45 years

A painting of Flemish artists Sir Peter Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dyck was stolen in a raid in 1979

A painting that was stolen more than forty years ago has finally returned home.

The 17th century portrait of two famous Flemish artists was taken during a raid whilst on loan to an art galley in Eastbourne in 1989.

Before going on loan it was hung in Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, where it has now been safely returned.

The stolen painting was spotted by an eagle-eyed art historian back in 2020 at an auction in Toulon, France.

Since then a team who specialise in recovering lost artworks have been working to get it back to its owner.

The painting was eventually found more than 800 miles (1,287km) from its home in Derbyshire

The curator of fine art at Chatsworth House, Charles Noble, said finding the painting was a "thrilling moment".

"It was [lost] over 40 years ago, and after that sort of time, you don't expect a painting to reappear again," he said.

The painting was returned to Chatsworth House in May after repainting and restoration had taken place.

But it won't be staying there for long, as there are plans for it to go on display at the National Galleries of Scotland later this year.