Spain's National Police recovers two 17th-Century Paintings
Originally part of the decoration for the main altarpiece at Seville's Church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests, these works were loaned in 1929 for display at the Ibero-American Exposition.
Spain’s National Police recovered two 17th-century oil paintings on oval pine panels by Sevillian artist Lucas Valdés. The artworks, which belonged to the Hospital of the Venerable Priests of Seville, disappeared nearly a century ago.
The investigation began in September 2025 after the Archdiocese of Seville raised an alarm. The Ministry of Culture's Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Goods division then notified the National Police that two works listed in an auction house catalog may have been stolen from the Church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests.
Scheduled for auction just days later, the pieces matched the descriptions of two paintings that vanished in 1930 following the Ibero-American Exposition of Seville.The recovered works—two oil paintings on oval pine panels depicting biblical scenes—are by the prominent 17th-century Sevillian master Lucas Valdés.
Originally part of the main altarpiece decoration at the Church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in Seville, the paintings were loaned out in 1929 for display at the Ibero-American Exposition. However, when the event concluded in 1930, they were never returned, and their whereabouts remained a mystery for nearly a century.
Acting on a tip, the Historical Heritage Brigade launched an investigation to verify the provenance of the artworks and confirm if they were indeed the missing pieces from the church. Once their authenticity and identity were verified, officers executed a precautionary seizure of the paintings to block the sale and ensure their protection.
During the investigation, officers identified the current holders of the artworks and informed them of the pieces' legal and historical status, advising them that the paintings should be returned to their rightful owners. Thanks to mediation efforts between the current holders and the Archdiocese of Seville, both works were successfully recovered.
Main Image: Copyright Policía Nacional de España