Stolen Rockwell found in Spielberg collection

Los Angeles, March 3: A Norman Rockwell painting stolen more three decades ago was found in Steven Spielberg's art collection, but the Oscar-winning filmmaker acquired it legally, the FBI said.

Rockwell's ''Russian Schoolroom,'' worth as much as 700,000 dollars today, was stolen from a St. Louis gallery in 1973 and purchased by Spielberg from a legitimate dealer in 1989, the FBI said in a statement yesterday.

The Hollywood mogul only realized the stolen origin last week when the FBI posted a picture and description of the painting on a Web site. The FBI Art Crime Team confirmed a match yesterday.

The 16-by-37-inch (40.5-by-94-cm), oil-on-canvas painting shows children in a classroom with a bust of Lenin.

Spielberg, director of hit movies like ''ET'' and ''Schindler's List'', is ''cooperating fully'' and will retain possession of the painting while its rightful ownership is determined, the FBI said.

Reuters