Two Stolen Lucas Valdés Altarpiece Paintings Recovered in Spain

Spanish police have recovered two 17th-century altarpiece paintings by Baroque artist Lucas Valdés that went missing nearly a century ago. The works, depicting Old Testament scenes, were seized just before an auction in September 2025 after the Archdiocese of Seville alerted authorities. The oval oil-on-pine panels, measuring 23 by 24 inches, were part of the main altarpiece of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests church in Seville, created by sculptor Francisco de Barahona. They remained in the church until 1889, were moved during renovations, and were last documented in the sacristy in the early 1920s by Prado Museum director Diego Angulo Íñiguez. The paintings disappeared after being shown at the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition of Seville. Following authentication by the Spanish Historical Heritage Brigade, police seized the works days before their scheduled auction. Through mediation, the consignors agreed to return them. On May 20, 2025, the paintings were handed back in a ceremony attended by Archdiocese officials and police. The Archdiocese stated the works can now be viewed by the faithful and visitors to Seville.