Stolen Rembrandt drawing tested for DNA evidence

L.A. County Sheriff's detectives are conducting DNA tests on a Rembrandt drawing stolen from the Ritz Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey over the weekend.

“It is still being viewed as evidence,” it has been dusted for prints and will be checked for DNA, said Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore. “We are reaching out to people [experts]; we are taking photos to send to them."

The 11-inch-by-6-inch quill work is owned by the San Francisco-based Linearis Institute and was on display for potential buyers Saturday night at the tony hotel in Marina del Rey.

According to sheriff's officials, the artwork disappeared between 10:20 p.m. and 10:35 p.m. The curator told detectives he became distracted during an extended discussion about art with a hotel guest. During this time, the curator had his back to the drawing, which was sitting on an easel. He turned around and saw it was gone.

Detectives believe that more than one person was involved in the theft.

On Monday night, someone dropped off the drawing at a church in Encino.

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-- Richard Winton

Photo: Police take the stolen Rembrandt drawing. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times