Spanish police have recovered a painting by Irish-born artist Francis Bacon, worth an estimated €5 million – one of five stolen from a Madrid home in 2015.
The 1989 “Study for Portrait of Jose Capelo” is the fourth work of the group to be recovered, estimated to be worth a combined €25m.
In February, police arrested two people accused of the receipt of stolen artworks in the Spanish capital, leading them to ultimately discover the painting at a property in Madrid.
Since the investigation began, 16 people believed to have masterminded and carried out the robbery have been arrested.
Three of the paintings were found in 2017.
🚩Recuperado un #cuadro de Francis Bacon valorado en 5.000.000 de 💶 sustraído en #Madrid en 2015
➡️Se trata de la cuarta obra de #arte recuperada de las cinco que fueron robadas en un domicilio de #Madrid en el año 2015, valoradas en 25 millones de💶 pic.twitter.com/EKu0bPVssT
— Policía Nacional (@policia) May 23, 2024
Police said they continue to investigate Spanish citizens with links to organised groups from Eastern Europe in the hope it will lead them to the fifth painting.
According to local media, the paintings were stolen from the apartment of Jose Capelo, Mr Bacon’s friend and former lover, although police would not confirm or deny that information.
Francis Bacon, who was born in Dublin in 1909, died in Madrid in 1992 aged 82.
He was one of the most acclaimed artists of the 20th century, known for his disturbing vision of the human body.
Since he died, his reputation has grown steadily, along with the valuation of his works.
