Lost Sorolla Painting Found by Tourist in Seville Returned to Owners

Andrés Hurtado, a resident of Murcia, found a painting leaning against a garage door in Seville's historic center during a family trip and took it home, believing it was discarded. The painting had been accidentally left on the sidewalk hours earlier by its owners, who were transporting it for a vacation. They reported the loss to police and put up posters offering a reward for its return, describing it as a "painting of great sentimental value" without naming the artist. Back in Murcia, Hurtado used AI tools to investigate the work's origin. The painting, depicting two sailboats in a seascape with a visible signature in the lower right corner, was attributed to Joaquín Sorolla, a major Spanish painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries known for outdoor scenes and Mediterranean light. Realizing its financial, historical, and sentimental value, Hurtado contacted the police to arrange its return. The family recovered the painting and plans to give him a small gift as thanks. The reward amount was not disclosed.