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who stole the painting oblivion

In the context of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion , the stolen painting mystery you’re referring to is almost certainly the quest “Canvas the Castle” in Chorrol, involving Countess Valga of Castle Chorrol.

Quick Scoop

  • The painting that goes missing is a portrait of Count Valga (sometimes transcribed as Vulga) hanging in Castle Chorrol.
  • After you investigate footprints, hidden art supplies, and a concealed painting in the West Tower, the evidence points to Chanel , the castle’s court mage and painter.
  • When confronted with enough proof, Chanel confesses that she stole the painting and hid it, explaining she did it out of love and jealousy over how attached the Countess was to the portrait.

So, in Oblivion’s “Canvas the Castle” quest, Chanel is the one who stole the painting.

How the Investigation Plays Out

You’re hired by Countess Valga in Castle Chorrol to find out who stole her late husband’s portrait. You then:

  1. Inspect the crime scene where the painting once hung.
  1. Question suspects such as Orgnolf and Chanel.
  1. Follow physical clues :
    • Paint footprints on the carpet in the dining area.
 * A **hidden painting** behind crates in the West Tower.

 * **Painting supplies** in Chanel’s lectern, tying her to the stolen work.

Once everything lines up, you can formally accuse Chanel, which triggers her confession.

Chanel’s Motive and Confession

When confronted, Chanel explains:

  • She painted the original portrait of Count Valga herself.
  • After the Count’s death, the Countess spent so much time with that painting that Chanel grew jealous.
  • She stole the painting and hid it so she could have it back, driven by her feelings for the Count.

Her confession scene is nearly identical across multiple playthroughs and remaster videos, where she says she did it out of “great love” for the Count.

Your Choices and Outcomes

Once you know who stole the painting , you have two main paths.

  1. Turn Chanel in to the Countess
    • You identify Chanel as the thief.
 * Reward: up to **700 gold** and some gems.

 * Consequence: Chanel is **removed from the game world** ; she disappears from Chorrol for good.
  1. Protect Chanel and lie
    • You tell the Countess that neither suspect is guilty.
 * Reward: only **50 gold**.

 * Bonus: Chanel is so grateful she offers to **paint a picture for you** if you visit her later, and you get a custom painting for your home after a few in‑game weeks.

This gives the quest its “detective” feel plus a moral angle: justice and big reward vs. mercy and a unique personal item.

Why This Quest Is Still Trending

Players still discuss “who stole the painting Oblivion” because:

  • Oblivion Remastered and modern playthroughs have brought the quest back into circulation, with streamers doing 100% runs and covering “Canvas the Castle” in detail.
  • It’s one of the more classic whodunit quests in the game, mixing investigation, clues, and a choice-driven ending that can change an NPC’s fate.

So for searches like “who stole the painting Oblivion,” the answer tying all those discussions and videos together is: Chanel is the thief behind the stolen painting in the ‘Canvas the Castle’ quest.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.