A thief stole the original from Ottawa's Fairmont Château Laurier hotel and replaced it with a fake.
For many years, the portrait of Winston Churchill had hung at the hotel but in 2022 staffers realized that it had been replaced with a copy - complete with a forged signature. Now, after a two-year search, authorities have finally recovered the original print of The Roaring Lion, the famous photograph of Britain's wartime leader staring defiantly into the camera.
The 1941 image by Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh appeared on the cover of Life magazine and is now featured on Britain’s five-pound note. Karsh took the photograph after Churchill delivered a speech to members of Canada’s parliament to thank them for their war efforts - and the photo became one of the most widely reproduced images in the history of photography.
Legend has it that Churchill only gave the photographer “one shot” to take the image that would go on to cement his career. However, the politician would not let go of his cigar. Karsh plucked it from Churchill’s mouth without warning - causing the prime minister to make a stern and serious expression.
The hotel first realized something was wrong when an employee saw that the portrait’s frame was different from others that Karsh had given to the hotel. It eventually became apparent that the forgery had been hanging for about eight months. Now, after a long investigation, officials report that the image has resurfaced in Italy. The picture will soon be on its way back to Canada.
Authorities have arrested 43-year-old Jeffrey Iain James Wood from Ontario, and charged him with crimes including theft, forgery and art trafficking.
Comments