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Theft claim halts sale of Zoffany portrait from Versace's Como villa

Celebrity visitors to the villa of Gianni Versace on Lake Como were often stunned by its opulent Neo-Classical interior and the artwork on display.

What neither the fashion designer — who died 12 years ago — nor his guests knew was that one of his most prized paintings may have been stolen.

Sotheby’s, which auctioned the contents of Versace’s villa in London yesterday, withdrew an 18th-century portrait by the German artist Johann Zoffany after its subject’s family claimed that it had been stolen from their home in London 30 years ago.
Read entire article at Times (UK)