LA PAZ (AP).- Two 17th century colonial paintings stolen for a Roman Catholic church in Bolivia more than 13 years ago have been recovered and returned to the South American country.
A statement from the London-based Art Loss Register says the works are titled "Saint Rose of Viterbo" and "Saint Augustin."
Executive director Christopher Marinello says the recovery was made after a U.S. art dealer reported receiving the paintings on consignment from a collector. He asked the Art Loss Register to search its international database of stolen artworks for the items.
The paintings were stolen on Christmas Eve 1997 from the Church of San Andres de Machaca. That's an Aymara Indian community southwest of La Paz.
They will be exhibited in La Paz on Oct. 3.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
