Two centuries-old masterworks resurface after nearly a century-long disappearance

The National Police have recovered two oval oil paintings on pine panel by the 17th-century painter from Seville Lucas Valdés, which once belonged to the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in Seville and had been missing for almost a century.

The investigation began in September 2025 when the Ministry of Culture, acting through its Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Goods unit and following a tip from the Archdiocese of Seville, notified the National Police that two works listed in an auction house catalogue may have been stolen from the church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in Seville.

Missing since 1930

The pieces were due to be auctioned just days later and matched the description of two works that have been missing since 1930 — paintings that vanished following the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville.

The recovered works are two oval oil paintings on pine panel depicting biblical scenes by the renowned 17th-century painter Lucas Valdés.

These pieces originally formed part of the decoration of the main altarpiece of the church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in Seville and were loaned in 1929 for display at the Ibero-American Exposition. When the event concluded in 1930, the paintings were never returned, and their whereabouts remained unknown for decades.

Based on the information received, the Historical Heritage Brigade launched inquiries to verify the provenance of the works and confirm whether they were the missing pieces from the Church of the Venerable Priests. Once their authenticity was established and it was confirmed they were indeed the long-lost paintings, officers carried out a precautionary seizure to prevent their sale and safeguard their protection.

Mediation secures their return

During the course of the investigation, officers identified the current holders of the works and informed them of the legal and heritage status of the pieces, explaining that they should be returned to their rightful owners. Through mediation between the holders and the Archdiocese of Seville, the effective return of both works was finally achieved.

On the 20th of this month, the two paintings were deposited with the Archdiocese of Seville in a handover ceremony held at the church of the Hospital of the Venerable Priests in the city.

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