The National Police has recovered two oval-shaped oil paintings on pine board, works by the prominent 17th century Sevillian painter Lucas Valdés, which had been missing for a century, according to the agents themselves in a statement today, Monday. The pieces, which represent biblical scenes, belonged to the Hospital of the Venerable Priests of Seville and were finally returned there last week. His trace had been lost in 1930, after the Ibero-American Exposition in the city.
The document states that the investigation “started in September 2025, when the Ministry of Culture, through the Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Property area and after being alerted by the Archdiocese of Seville, informed the National Police” that two works that were going to be auctioned a few days later could correspond exactly to the missing Valdés oil paintings. The agents, once they found out that this was indeed the case, proceeded with their precautionary intervention, to prevent the sale and protect them.
The two pieces were part “of the decoration of the main altarpiece of the church of the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes of Seville and were loaned in 1929 for exhibition at the Ibero-American Exhibition” in the city, according to the statement. However, once the event was over, they never returned and were never heard from again. Until now. After their investigation, the agents contacted the owners of the works, to inform them of the “legal and patrimonial situation of the pieces” and to inform them of the “advisability of returning them to the legitimate owners.” After mediation, in which the Archdiocese of Seville also participated, this was finally the case.