The Astounding Story of how a Stolen Caravaggio Painting
was Replaced and How you can Own a Spectacular Painting
From the Estate of the Artist who Replaced it

For over 30 years, acclaimed San Diego oil painting artist Noel Baron reproduced the works of the great masters of the 15th to 19th centuries until her untimely passing in 2006.

A painting titled The Adoration with St. Francis and St. Lorenzo by Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio (or known simply as Caravaggio) hung over the altar of the Oratorio of San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily from 1609 until the morning of October 19, 1969. The painting was discovered that it had been cut and stolen from its frame. Officially, it has never been recovered. It remains a most important and irreplaceable piece of art in history.

The theft was the topic of an ABC - BBC TV documentary re-enacted by London Sunday Times Journalist Peter Watson. Watson mounted a two year, Scotland Yard monitored, undercover operation, posing as an unscrupulous underworld art dealer in an effort to recover the Caravaggio. He came within a day of recovering the painting when an unexpected earthquake interrupted the final exchange. After Noel consulted with Watson she was inspired to create a concise replica of the stolen Nativity as a gift to the citizens of Palermo.

In 1986, after two years of letters, phone calls and personal appeals, Noel was granted permission by the Archdiocese of Palermo, the Holy SEE (The Vatican) and under the watchful eye of the Italian Ministry of Culture in Los Angeles to reproduces and replace Caravaggio’s last masterpiece. The Nativity scene painting became a year-long project that was to become a Christmas gift to the Church and especially the people of Palermo, Sicily. Many magazine and TV documentaries have been done about this extraordinary undertaking. The finished painting was delivered to the archdiocese of Palermo in December of 1986.

On commission, Noel’s art heavily adorns a 26,000 square foot Renaissance estate in La Jolla, the largest steel frame home in California. She has done works for Bob Hope, Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson.

This is a brief video portfolio of some of her works including a tour of her estate in San Diego. A gallery has many of her pieces including the reconstruction of the lost Matthew and the Angel painting done by Caravaggio.

Her remaining private collection is extensive and available to discerning private collectors. You may take time to review the collection and contact B. Baron - barry@waveourflag.com

Noel Baron 1952 - 2006

This is a low resolution video of some of Noel’s paintings including a test Caravaggio Nativity.
They are in situ in her San Diego estate.
Control video with right mouse button.

Noel with work in progress on the Nativity scene for Palermo

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These are a few examples of the many paintings produced through Noel’s lifetime dedication to the fine arts. Some images are from paintings that no longer are in inventory. Image photo copies are limited in dynamic optimization.

Third panel is a photo of Caravaggio’s first version of St Matthew and the Angel. It maybe the first successfully accurate color reproduction of the original that was destroyed during allied bombing of Berlin in the Second World War. The image color description was provided by an art critic with great detail in 1909. No color image either in a prewar color photo or copy painting exists. Additional information can be read in the full story. CLICK HERE