A provincial police squad devoted to art theft says a Montreal businessman is facing charges after three long-missing works by renowned Quebec artist Jean Paul Riopelle were recovered earlier this year. They were found hanging on the walls of a home belonging to the man.
The squad got a search warrant after receiving a tip that the woman of the house was openly seeking opinions about the works, which were painted by Riopelle in the mid-1950s. Each is valued at $50,000.
The paintings, along with several others, were stolen from a warehouse while in transit between New York and Montreal 18 years ago.
La Presse says 50-year old businessman Carlo Farruggia is now facing a charge of possession of stolen property, as he could not provide proper documentation as to the provenance of the works.