Francis Bacon's stolen paintings, valued at over €25 million, have captivated the art world since their robbery from José Capelo's Madrid apartment in 2015. This heist was marked as one of Spain's most significant contemporary art thefts, involving five portraits by the esteemed British painter. The criminal gang behind the theft not only made away with the paintings but also took jewelry and a safe, making it a high-stakes crime.
In 2017, Spanish police made notable progress by recovering three of the five stolen Bacon masterpieces. Despite several arrests and intense investigative efforts, the search for the remaining two paintings continued. Recently, a breakthrough occurred with the arrest of two additional suspects in Madrid. One of the detained individuals led authorities to one of the missing portraits, hidden in a building within the city. This find brings the total to four recovered paintings, leaving one still at large.
The investigation has grown in complexity as 16 suspects have been arrested over the years, including the alleged mastermind, Cristóbal García, a Madrid art dealer. His involvement came under scrutiny due to a crucial note found at his residence, though he firmly denies any connection to the heist. The diverse background of the criminal gang spans art dealers, stonemasons, jewelers, and even an Uber driver, reflecting the elaborate nature of the theft.
Several attempts to sell the stolen paintings were thwarted due to keen observations by art galleries and surveillance by the police. The gang made multiple efforts to offload the artworks in Spain but consistently failed, leading to crucial leads that eventually pinpointed their locations. One attempt involved modifying the strategy by contacting an international art detective, Arthur Brand, nicknamed 'the art detective,' which resulted in additional arrests and the recovery of one more painting.
Despite significant strides, the fifth and final painting remains elusive. The investigators remain hopeful, driven by the clues gathered from various botched sales and collaboration with art institutions worldwide. The intricate web of art theft highlights the challenges in selling stolen artwork and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement to reclaim these cultural treasures.
- Francis Bacon, born in 1909, is renowned for his striking triptychs and contributions to expressionist art. One of his notable works, 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud,' fetched a staggering $142.4 million at Christie's New York in 2013, a testament to his monumental impact on the art world. Bacon's deep admiration for Spanish masters like Goya and Velazquez influenced his work significantly, which perhaps adds a layer of irony to his paintings being stolen and later predominantly recovered in Spain.
- Cases like the Bacon painting heist shed light on the vulnerabilities of high-value art pieces, even in secure locations. The intricate connections between stolen artworks and the black market reveal how risky it is to deal in such pieces. The Bacon theft case not only underscores the dedication of police forces in solving art crimes but also serves as a reminder of the lasting impact and cultural value these artworks hold.
