'Priceless' 18th-century British painting stolen by mobsters is found in Utah by FBI and returned to family more than half a century later

A stolen 18th-century British painting from 1784 was returned to its rightful owner after 54 years'The School Mistress', painted by John Opie, was stolen from Dr. Earl Leroy Wood's home in Newark, New Jersey in 1969 by mobstersThe piece made its way to Florida, Utah and back to New Jersey where it was delivered to Leroy's son, Dr. Francis Wood on January 11 

A ‘priceless’ 18th-century British painting that was stolen by mobsters in New Jersey was found in Utah by the FBI and returned to a family after 54 years.

The painting, titled ‘The School Mistress’ was created by John Opie, an English historical and portrait painter in 1784.

It was purchased in the 1930s by Dr. Earl Leroy Wood for $7,500, but was later stolen from his home in Newark, New Jersey in July 1969 by three convicted mobsters.

In 1989, it resurfaced in a home in Hallendale, Florida, after an unidentified homeowner bought it with his new house. After he died in 2020, it was appraised and discovered as stolen.

Special Agent Gary France then worked with the FBI in Salt Lake City and Newark to return the painting to Dr. Earl Leroy’s 96-year-old son Dr. Francis Wood on January 11.

A stolen 18th-century British painting from 1784 was returned to its rightful owner after 54 years

Dr. Earl Leroy Wood’s son Dr. Francis Wood received the painting that was stolen in 1969 on January 11 by the FBI. Pictured: Francis and his children with the painting

Francis is seen grinning as he looks at the piece of art that was stolen from his father’s home in July 1969 by three mobsters

‘It definitely ranks in, you know, the top 5 cases I’ve ever worked in my career,’ France told KSL News Radio.

‘A very novel and unusual experience,’ France said as he revealed that this was the first art crime case he’d worked in 21 years.

The piece of art, displayed on a 40 by 50inch canvas, depicts a group of young boys being instructed in a Cornish classroom, along with more children in the back with a dog.

The oil painting became ‘highly admired’ and ‘launched Opie’s London career,’ as he used family members as models for the piece, according to Tate.

In the summer of 1969, three notorious mobsters, Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Castiglione first broke into Earl Leroy Wood’s house in search of his coin collection, but didn’t succeed after they were thrown off by a burglar alarm and ran away.

Police and State Senator Anthony Imperiale then responded to the attempted robbery and were told about the valuable painting by the housekeeper, ABC4 reported.

Just three weeks later, the same mobsters burglarized the New Jersey home again and escaped with the paining, according to FBI Salt Lake City spokeswoman Sandra Yi Barker.

During a trial for Donnerstag, his accomplice Festa testified and confessed to taking the artwork and revealed that he did so ‘under the direction of Senator Imperiale.’

The accusations were never proven, and Imperiale never faced charges, but France believes that the painting was transported by the mafia to another mobster and stayed in their hands through the 1980s.

The piece then resurfaced 20 years later after an unidentified man bought a home in Hallendale, Florida from Joseph Covello Sr., an organized crime member who was indicted and convicted of RICO charges, France said. 

Once the priceless piece was handed over to the FBI, France personally delivered it to Francis at his home in Newark. Pictured: Francis and France

Gerald Festa, Gerald Donnerstag and Austin Castiglione first broke into Earl Leroy Wood’s house (pictured) in search of his coin collection, but failed to steal it. Three weeks later they took the painting

A copy of a stolen poster that was created at the time of the robbery in 1969

The stolen piece came with the sale of the home but the buyer said he was unaware of its long history or worth. It remained with him as he moved to his new home in St. George, Utah.

The man then died in 2020, and the piece of art was then found a year later by a Utah-based accounting firm that the he hired to liquidate his residence.

Once it was appraised, it became clear that it stolen and was handed over to the FBI.

A Utah judge then confirmed the piece’s proper ownership and France made his way to Dr. Francis Wood’s Newark home to give his father’s stolen painting back to him.

Upon France’s arrival, Wood was surrounded by his children who posed in pictures with him around the recovered piece of art.

‘It was fascinating to talk to the Wood family and see the pictures that they had captured in 1968 of this painting on the wall as they gathered for their family holidays,’ France said.

Tom Wood, Francis’s son told ABC News that their family was stunned to hear that the painting had been found and said that they didn’t have ‘much hope we would ever see it again.’