Iconic 1941 Churchill Photograph "Roaring Lion" Stolen from Canada Found in Italy After Two Years of Investigation

Ottawa police said on Wednesday that a famous photo of Winston Churchill taken in 1941 has been found in Italy after it disappeared from an Ottawa hotel where it was replaced with a fake, the BBC reports.

The picture, known as ‘The Roaring Lion’, was taken by Yusuf Karsh shortly after Churchill delivered a speech in the Canadian Parliament during World War II.

The portrait was recovered from a private buyer in Genoa, Italy, who did not know it had been stolen. Officials also announced the arrest of a man from Powassan, Ontario, in connection with the theft and illegal sale. 

The 43-year-old man, whose name has been withheld, is charged in Canada with forgery, theft, trafficking and damage to property. He was arrested on 25 April and appeared in court in Ottawa the following day.

In the photo, the prime minister poses for a victory sign with a bow tie and a determined expression, which became a symbol of Britain's stubborn resistance during World War II.

In August 2022, employees of a hotel in the capital Ottawa discovered that the original hanging in the reading room had been replaced with a fake.

The Canadian police say that with the help of tips from the public and forensic detective work, they found the perpetrator. 

At the end of this month, Canadian investigators will travel to Rome to take part in a ceremony at which the buyer will officially return the artwork.

‘Once transferred into the custody of the Ottawa Police, the portrait will be ready for the final step of its journey home to the Fairmont Château Laurier, where it will once again be displayed as an outstanding historical portrait,’ the police said.