£10m Giotto ‘was spirited out of Italy’
ITALY is demanding back a £10million Giotto painting “spirited away” to the UK, a court heard.
When Kathleen Simonis paid £3,500 in 1990 for the Madonna and Child, dated 1297, it was thought to be an 1800s imitation.
But restoration showed it was by the Florentine master who died in 1337.
Italy’s culture ministry told the High Court Ms Simonis moved it, without telling them, to London in 2007 after an export licence ran out.
Their lawyer said: “Ms Simonis spirited the painting out of Italy.”
But her QC said EU law gave her the right to move it between member states.
The court heard a later UK bid to move the work out of the EU was refused. The hearing continues.