The Spanish police have recovered a Francis Bacon painting, worth $5.4 million, which was stolen in 2015.
The police did not reveal information about when and where the painting, which is the fourth of 5 works that were stolen, was recovered. However, a statement released by the Spanish police said: “Investigations are continuing to locate the remaining work and arrest those in possession of it, with the focus on Spanish nationals with links to organized groups from Eastern Europe.”
In 2015, five Francis Bacon paintings were stolen from the home of José Capelo, a prominent Spanish banker. The paintings were given to him by Bacon, who was a personal friend of Capelo. Since Bacon died in 1992, the paintings have remained at Capelo’s home. In 2015, during the few hours Capelo stepped out of his home, the five paintings were stolen from his house by unknown thieves. The news was only revealed in March 2016 – quickly gaining traction as the largest art heist in Spanish history. At the time of the theft, the paintings were collectively worth €30 million ($33 million), though the latest estimate evaluates them at €25 million.
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Since then, the Spanish police launched an international manhunt in search of the paintings. By 2017, 3 of the 5 paintings were recovered. The police have also arrested 16 people involved in the crime – including the alleged mastermind. The police have cited that international crime groups active across Europe might have gained access to the remaining works. However, the recovery of the 4th painting has given hope that the last work might also be recovered.
