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FBI delivers two viceregal paintings for return to Peru

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru

10:00 | Washington D.C. (U.S.), May. 10.

Two oil paintings from the viceregal era that had left Peru irregularly were recovered in New Mexico and handed over to their country of origin by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Accompanied by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell, Peru's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Camino received from the FBI the two paintings that will be returned to the Archbishopric of Cusco, south of the country.


The artworks were presented by Campbell to Camino within the framework of the High-Level Political Dialogue Mechanism between Peru and the United States, which opens new paths of cooperation between both countries.

"At the meeting, Deputy Minister Camino thanked his U.S. counterpart for the restitution of the two paintings from the viceregal era recovered by the FBI," the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed in a press release.

Recovery and repatriation

The coordination for the recovery of these valuable pieces and their repatriation to Peru was generated jointly by the U.S. State Department, the FBI, and the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

High diplomatic authorities attended the ceremony for the return of said cultural assets that were recovered by the FBI in New Mexico as a result of an ongoing investigation.

The paintings date from the 17th century and belonged to the Virgin del Carmen Parish in Surimana, Canas province, Cusco region. 

The initial cataloging of these cultural assets took place on July 2, 1984, with a more recent verification held on May 6, 2008.


Saint Joseph, Child Jesus, and Saint Christopher

The paintings are recognized as the "Diptych of Saint Joseph, the Infant Jesus, and Saint Christopher," originally part of a single composition but later separated. Each artwork measures approximately 35 inches in height, 29 inches in width, and has a depth of 3 inches.

Within this framework, Deputy Minister Camino reaffirmed Peru's commitment to working with the U.S. to combat illegal trafficking of cultural property.

"He also thanked the FBI, the United States Department of Justice, and the Department of State for their efforts, which made possible the return of these valuable paintings to our country," the ministry concluded.

(END) NDP/CCH/MVB

Published: 5/10/2024
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