Unexpected discovery: Valuable Picasso work stolen six years ago in Milwaukee recovered
A priceless piece of art has returned to the hands of its original owner after a fortuitous discovery. The print “Torero,” a work signed by the legendary Pablo Picasso, was recovered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after having been missing since 2018, when it was stolen from Bill DeLind’s gallery.
The discovery occurred when Tim Dertz, a property owner in the area, was cleaning an apartment after a tenant’s eviction. To his surprise, he found the framed piece hanging on a wall, covered by a thick layer of dust, which suggested it had remained there for a long period of time.
I felt overwhelmed. I was left speechless. It was a very emotional moment for me, everything came back to its origin.
Bill DeLind, gallery owner
Rescue details
After identifying the piece, Dertz contacted an antique dealer friend who suspected it could be the work reported stolen years ago. Upon handing the object over to the authorities, the Milwaukee police confirmed the identity of the piece by observing the original «DeLind Fine Art Appraisals» label that still remained on the back of the frame.
- The work is one of the 30 known copies of “Torero” signed by Picasso.
- The estimated value of the piece ranges between 35,000 and 50,000 dollars.
- The case remains under investigation by local authorities.
Currently, the engraving is under police custody while the relevant legal and insurance procedures are being managed. DeLind nostalgically remembered his former business partner, who passed away recently, and who dedicated years to requesting that the authorities keep the case active in the hope that this moment would finally arrive.
