The painting Stormy Sea by Lev Lagorio, a noted Russian marine artist of the 19th century, recently resurfaced in Moscow after a theft that targeted Lomonosov Moscow State University. Authorities confirmed the recovery through a Telegram post issued by the Moscow prosecutor’s office, signaling a formal step in the ongoing investigation.
Details released by the ministry’s press service indicate that the artwork was located through the efforts of the coordinating office of the Nikulinsk Interregional Prosecutor’s Office. This development underscores the collaborative role of regional and city authorities in coordinating the response to the case.
At present, no precise information has been made public about where the painting was found or who may have been involved in the theft. The investigation is described as actively progressing, with investigators examining potential links and securing witnesses connected to the incident.
On February 5, a geology department employee at the university reported the missing painting. He informed investigators that Stormy Sea, which had previously hung in a prominent office within the Lenin Heights building, was no longer present. The report prompted a broader inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, including questions about security measures and access to the artwork.
The estimated value of the Lagorio work is reported to exceed three hundred thousand rubles, highlighting the cultural and financial stakes involved in the case. Lagorio, born in 1827 and deceased in 1905, was a respected Russian painter and watercolorist known for his marine scenes. He trained under Ivan Aivazovsky and later became a professor and an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts, reinforcing the painting’s significance within Russia’s artistic heritage.
In a separate note on the arts scene, a separate incident involving Monet has drawn attention from environmental groups in France. The episode recalls the broader conversations about protecting cultural treasures and the impact of public actions on the preservation of masterworks, though the two events are not directly linked in the current case.