On Thursday, May 23, Spanish police recovered a painting by the late Irish-born British figurative artist Francis Bacon. The painting was estimated to be worth $5.42 million, one of five stolen from a Madrid home in 2015.
The five paintings were reportedly worth a total of $27 million. They belonged to a collection owned by a close friend of Bacon, who reported the robbery to police in July 2015.
Stolen Bacon Paintings Recovered
According to a police statement, the 1989 painting of a man's head named 'Study for Portrait of José Capelo' is valued at $5.4 million. It was found after two people suspected of receiving two of the five paintings by Bacon were arrested in February.
Police said that 16 people, including the thieves, were arrested since investigations started.
"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," a statement released by the Spanish police said.
In 2017, three of the paintings were recovered.
According to the local media, the artworks were allegedly taken from the apartment of José Capelo, Bacon's friend and former lover. However, authorities would not confirm or deny that information.
Bacon's Remarkable Influence on Art Industry
Bacon's tryptic 'Three Studies of Lucian Freud' (1969) was sold for over $142 million at Christie's New York in 2013. His work has brought in extraordinary sums of money at auction.
In May last year, Bacon's 1966 painting 'Portrait of George Dyer Crouching' was sold for $27.7 million at Sotheby's New York.
Bacon was one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century and was well-known for his unsettling portrayal of the human body. He passed away in Madrid in 1992.
