Spielberg, Oops. I didn’t know the painting was stolen but you can have it back

After 18 years, a painting recognized as being stolen was discovered to be hanging in Steven Spielberg’s personal art collection. Fortunately, Spielberg is cooperating with the FBI in any way possible in order to remedy the discovery.

A stolen painting has been found at Steven Spielberg’s home 18 years after the US filmmaker unwittingly bought it. Spielberg’s staff spotted an FBI theft notice last week and realised it was in their employer’s collection. [...] The painting was stolen in 1973 from an exhibition in Missouri. The FBI estimate the work could be worth $700,000 (£360,000). Spielberg is co-operating with the FBI and will keep hold of the painting until its “disposition can be determined”, the FBI said.

Don’t you just hate it when you drop a noticeable chunk of change on an art piece only to discover 18 years later that it is a fake, or even worse… stolen? Grr. I hate that. Shady sellers. Reminds me of this time on eBay when… [fill in with your own negative experience with an eBay seller].