Authorities in Spain trace valuable Bacon artwork.
Police in Spain seize a stolen painting by British artist Francis Bacon that had been missing for nine years. This piece is considered part of one of the biggest art heists in the country's recent past, as five of the famous painter's works disappeared from an apartment back in 2015.
Officials apprehended a recovered artwork worth over five million euros this week. This means that four out of the five missing paintings have been found, as reported by authorities. The government has apprehended 16 individuals since the investigation started, including possible clients of the 2015 art theft. These suspects are believed to be connected to Eastern European organized crime groups.
The break-in occurred at an apartment in central Madrid when the owner - a friend and heir of the painter - was in London. The thieves disabled the security system and took off with the five paintings, including the now returned "Study for a Portrait of José Capelo." Due to a lack of fingerprints or any other identifying traces, the investigation was quite difficult.
At the time of the heist, it caused an enormous uproar internationally since the total value of the stolen artworks amounted to an estimated 25 million euros, making it one of the largest art thefts in Spain's history.
Born in Ireland, Francis Bacon was a monumental figure of the 20th-century art scene. He passed away on April 28, 1992, in Madrid during a trip, at 82 years old, from a heart attack.
Interestingly, just last month, another work by the prolific artist sold for over 25 million euros during an auction in New York. One of Bacon's most famous pieces, "Triptych," had previously been sold for 55.7 million euros at an auction in 2008.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
The seized painting was classified as a serious case of art theft, contributing to the ongoing international discussion on crime and cultural heritage. With the discovery of four out of the five stolen Bacon paintings, a significant portion of this international art crime case has been resolved.
Source: www.ntv.de
