Rare Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece recovered

MASTER(PIECE) RECOVERY: Police standing outside Drumlanrig Castle, from where the painting was stolen.

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London: A rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci that was feared lost forever after it was stolen in 2003 was recovered yesterday in Glasgow, Scotland, the police said.

The masterpiece, Madonna with the Yarnwinder, was at the centre of a worldwide search after it was stolen from a private castle in August 2003, with the FBI putting the painting on its list of 10 most wanted pieces of stolen artwork.

It is estimated to be worth at least 30 million pounds ($60 million).

The police said four men were arrested in Glasgow, Scotland's second city, Thursday afternoon while meeting for apparent negotiations about a sale. The painting was recovered at the scene. The men will appear in court on Friday.

Art experts confirmed the painting was the one stolen in 2003.

"We are extremely pleased to recover the 'Madonna with the Yarnwinder' painting," chief investigating officer Mickey Dalgleish said.

The painting was with the family of the Duke of Buccleuch, in Drumlanrig Castle near Glasgow, for almost 200 years and was admired by thousands of visitors to the castle every year.

The Duke of Buccleuch died only last month, aged 83, without knowing what happened to the valuable painting.