A woman from Norfolk has been reunited with a rare 17th-century painting nearly five decades after it was stolen from her family home, officials confirmed this week.

The painting, attributed to Dutch artist Balthasar van der Ast and titled Still Life with Rose and Iris, vanished under unclear circumstances in the 1970s. For decades, its whereabouts remained a mystery. That changed recently when the artwork, carrying inventory number NK2709 in the Dutch National Collection, was positively identified and returned to the family.

• Balthasar van der Ast
• Dutch National Collection

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Norfolk woman expressed quiet relief at the painting’s return. “I never stopped hoping we might see it again, even though so much time had passed,” she said.

Van der Ast, active in the early 17th century, was known for his delicate still life compositions featuring flowers, fruit, and seashells — often laden with symbolic meaning. That this specific work survived intact and was eventually traced back to its rightful owner is being seen as a significant milestone by experts in art restitution and cultural heritage protection.

• Van der Ast
• Art restitution

According to museum sources, the painting had surfaced in a private collection before experts recognized it as part of a group of artworks stolen decades ago and catalogued under the Dutch government’s efforts to track and recover looted or unlawfully displaced artworks.

“It’s always gratifying to see stolen or displaced cultural objects returned to where they belong,” said a representative of the museum service involved in the identification process. “Cases like this underscore the importance of careful documentation and sustained international cooperation.”

The full details of how the painting resurfaced remain undisclosed, and it is not yet clear whether criminal charges will follow. Authorities have not revealed the painting’s path over the past 50 years, citing ongoing inquiries and privacy considerations.

For now, the artwork has found its way back to the walls it once adorned. And while the family has not announced their plans for the painting’s future, they describe its homecoming as quietly monumental — a moment long hoped for, and finally here.