A historic painting of George Washington has been returned after being stolen from a storage unit in Englewood, Colorado, in January 2024. The artwork, a reverse glass copy of a renowned Gilbert Stuart portrait, was located due to a tip from Crime Stoppers, leading the police to recover it successfully.
Englewood Police Detective Christian Contos expressed admiration for the painting’s remarkable quality. The artwork’s intriguing history dates back to 1798, when an American captain brought the original to Guangzhou, China. There, local artists produced approximately 100 copies, which the captain later sold in the early 1800s during a surge in popularity for patriotic art. Today, only about six copies are known to exist, with most housed in museums or private collections.
Monica Brown, managing director of fine arts at Freeman’s | Hindman, explained the unique reverse glass painting technique used by the artists, which involved large sheets of European glass. This method gives the painting a smooth, reflective front surface, while any scratches at the back could potentially reveal its rear side.
The painting’s market value is estimated to be between US$60,000 to US$150,000 (A$96,000 to A$240,000), depending on its condition and provenance. Interestingly, it had been thought lost until Contos began investigating the theft, marking his first experience with an art-related case. Collaborating with the FBI’s Art Crime team, he added the painting to the National Stolen Art File, aiding in its identification.
Through a Crime Stoppers tip-off, Contos discovered a lead involving an individual who claimed to possess the painting. This person explained that he received the painting from a hotel employee who found it abandoned. After two weeks of negotiations, the painting was voluntarily handed over without any arrests being made.
Brown speculated that the thief may not have realised the painting’s value, perhaps discarding it after understanding the trouble it could bring. She noted that stolen artworks are often not easily sold, as they cannot be traded openly.
Fortunately, the painting returned to the police appeared to be in good condition apart from some frame damage. While the painting’s owner is delighted by its recovery, the artwork technically belongs to an insurance company that compensated the owner. The future of the painting will be determined by the insurance company, and Detective Contos expressed interest in acquiring his own copy for display in his office. This recovery not only reinstates a significant piece of art but also enriches its narrative.