Versace star lot withdrawn over theft fear

The contents of the murdered fashion designer's Lake Como villa will be part of a £2million auction being held tomorrow night at Sotheby's New Bond Street head office.

But on the eve of the sale, the auction house was embarrassed to discover one of the most expensive items - a work by German-born master Johann Zoffany - may have been stolen 15 years before Versace bought it.

Portrait Of Major George Maule had been heralded by Sotheby's only last week as a "newly discovered" masterpiece. The company gave a guide price of £40,000 to £60,000, although experts hoped it would fetch much more.

But when the Evening Standard published an article on Thursday about the auction and included a photograph of the Zoffany, descendants of Major Maule contacted authorities to suggest the painting had been stolen 30 years ago.

They telephoned the Art Loss Register, which identifies stolen works, and even sent a photograph of the portrait hanging in situ before it vanished. The Art Loss Register contacted Sotheby's and with the permission of Versace's family, including his sister Donatella, agreed to withdraw it. Art Loss Register spokeswoman Louisa von Loringhoven said today: "We are assisting the family to unravel the picture's provenance to establish its rightful ownership."

A Sotheby's spokeswoman said: "Lot 72 has been withdrawn from sale with the full agreement of Sotheby's consignor."

A source said the register was still trying to investigate claims that the painting was stolen before being bought by Versace, who never realised it was by a celebrated artist, about 15 years later.

Experts suggested it was unusual - although not unknown - for valuable art to be withdrawn on eve of sale over questions of provenance.

Sotheby's had declared last week: "The painting was part of Gianni Versace's collection for 15 years but has only now been attributed to Johann Zoffany by a panel of experts."

Zoffany, a favourite of George III, completed the portrait in 1783 during a stay in Madras, where Maule was chief engineer. The artist was born in Germany and in 1760 moved to England.

The painting had hung at Villa Fontanelle, one of several homes owned by Versace, who was shot dead outside his home in Miami in 1997. The villa was sold last year for £26million.