Stolen €5m Francis Bacon painting found in Spain

The painting was one of five stolen in Madrid in July 2015

Spanish police have recovered a €5m Francis Bacon painting that was stolen from banker José Capelo’s Madrid home in 2015. The artwork is part of a set of five portraits created by Bacon, who was friends with Capelo. Three of the stolen paintings were previously recovered in 2017. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft, which has helped authorities locate the missing painting.

A total of 16 arrests have been made since the heist, including those believed to be responsible for the crime. The stolen paintings, valued at €25m, are considered to be the largest contemporary art theft in Spain, with a safe containing jewels and coins also taken. Authorities are continuing their investigation to recover the remaining artwork and apprehend suspects linked to Eastern European organized crime groups.

Francis Bacon, born in Dublin in 1909, was a leading figure in modern art and passed away in Madrid in 1992. His works have sold for record amounts, including his 2013 painting Three Studies of Lucian Freud, which sold for $142m.

J.Larson

Jeffrey Wood, Guilty plea for stealing Winston Churchill portrait from Ottawa hotel

Winston Churchill, 1941 by Yousuf Karsh. This photograph of Britain's wartime prime minister came to define the resilience of the British people. (Yousuf Karsh)

Jeffrey Wood, the man responsible for stealing the renowned portrait of Winston Churchill from Ottawa's Château Laurier hotel during a COVID-19 lockdown in late 2022, pleaded guilty to three charges in court on March 14, 2025. These charges include theft over $5,000, forgery, and trafficking in property obtained by crime. Wood admitted to replacing the original portrait with a fake, despite the hotel’s frame being secured with special bolts that required specific tools to remove. The theft occurred sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day in 2022, but it wasn't noticed until August 2023 when a hotel employee realized the portrait had been swapped out.

The stolen portrait, given to the hotel in 1998 by famed photographer Yousuf Karsh, became the center of a complex, international investigation. After the portrait was sold through a London auction house, it was found in Genoa, Italy, where the buyer unknowingly purchased the stolen piece. Authorities were able to trace the sale back to Wood, who had received over $4,500 for the stolen artwork. Investigators also found a poster print of "The Roaring Lion" in a storage locker, with DNA evidence linking Wood to the crime scene.

Despite the theft's global nature, Wood’s motives were tied to personal struggles. During court proceedings, Wood explained that he committed the crime to support his brother, who was overseas at the time. However, his brother tragically passed away shortly after the theft. His lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, described the crime as one of “love,” not greed. Wood had also made plans to leave Canada around the time of the theft, which was part of his larger plan to sell the stolen portrait.

Jeffrey Wood arrives at the Ottawa Courthouse on March 14, 2025. He would go on to plead guilty to three charges, including theft and forgery, for stealing a portrait of Windston Churchill from the Château Laurier hotel. (Chris Tanouye/The Canadian Press)

Wood, a 44-year-old from Powassan, Ontario, had worked in various jobs, including as a bank teller and at the Rideau Canal Festival and the Ottawa Jail Hostel. He had also spent time living in Mexico, where he had moved shortly after the theft. Wood’s defense team argues that he should serve his sentence in the community, while prosecutors are pushing for a nearly two-year prison sentence. The final sentencing is set for April 14, 2025.

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Drent Museum Theft - Three Arrested In Bold Heist Of Ancient Gold Artifacts

In connection with the robbery, three suspects have been arrested in Heerhugowaard, a city located about 114 miles from Assen. However, despite the arrests, the stolen artifacts have yet to be recovered. Local police are continuing their investigation and have released the names and photographs of two of the suspects, Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, in hopes of gathering further information about their movements and any connections that could lead to the recovery of the stolen items.

Police have identified a third suspect, a woman, but have not disclosed her name and are not ruling out the possibility of additional individuals being involved.

The Gold Helmet of Cotofenesti remains missing after being stolen from the Drents Museum in Assen, Netherlands, during a robbery on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Thieves used explosives to break into the museum and steal four priceless artifacts, including the 2,500-year-old helmet, which is a national treasure in Romania.

The theft is considered a significant loss for Romania, as the helmet is an irreplaceable symbol of their heritage.

“The safe return of the stolen artifacts would be a fantastic next step for all involved," the Drents Museum said in its own statement. “Not only for us, but especially for the Romanian people.”

The thieves stole priceless archaeological artifacts, including this 2,500-year-old gold helmet considered a national treasure in Romania. -J.Larson

Art Adviser Lisa Schiff Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Image of Lisa Schiff

Once a prominent art adviser, Lisa Schiff, has now pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a New York court on Thursday, admitting to defrauding clients out of millions! She faces two lawsuits from collectors, including one for $1.8 million related to a painting sale and another claiming she misused $6.6 million intended for art purchases.

In January, Schiff filed for bankruptcy, reportedly owing nearly $7 million to various entities. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated she misappropriated client funds to support a lavish lifestyle. Schiff has agreed to forfeit $6.4 million, with sentencing set for January, facing a maximum of 20 years in prison. This jail sentance is highly unlikely for a white color crime.

It's hard to believe Lisa was once a leading figure in the art world with alist clients like Leonardo DiCaprio and has fallen to this level of disgrace. Schiff's firm, SFA Advisory, has closed, and artworks are being auctioned, including pieces estimated to be worth $2 million at Phillips next month. Her lawyer, Randy Zelin, emphasized that this marks the start of Schiff’s journey toward making amends.

Lisa Schiff will likely try to rebuild her reputation in the art world post-sentencing, but regaining trust should be difficult. If she returns, it would likely involve smaller projects to demonstrate integrity. A full comeback to her previous prominence seems unlikely, nevertheless, it's best to stay clear of Lisa Schiff.

- J.Larson

Second Soup Attack on Van Gogh Painting After Sentencing of Original Protesters by U.K. Climate Activists

Two Van Gogh Paintings had canned soup thrown at them by three activists at the "Lovers and Poets" exhibition at the National Gallery in London on February September 27. Photo: Just Stop Oil.

On September 27, 2024, three individuals targeted National Gallery paintings an hour after Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were jailed for similar attack in 2022

In the latest incident the three activists entered the gallery at approximately 2:30 PM, targeting both "Sunflowers" (1888 and 1889) during a prominent exhibition showcasing Van Gogh's works. The paintings are part of a significant triptych, with the targeted 1888 piece being especially notable for its cultural value. One of the activists, Phil Green, declared to gallery visitors that future generations would view these recent imprisonments as a testament to the activists' fight for justice and environmental preservation.

Image of Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland

The sentencing of Plummer and Holland, who were found guilty of criminal damage after they caused an estimated £10,000 worth of damage to the gold frame of the "Sunflowers" painting. During their sentencing, Judge Christopher Hehir condemned their actions as arrogant, emphasizing the near irreversible damage that could have occurred had the soup penetrated the protective glass of the artwork. He highlighted that their actions warranted custodial sentences due to the severity of the potential harm, noting that the gallery staff had to immediately assess the painting for any severe damage.

The latest soup-throwing incident adds to a series of high-profile protests by climate activists, reflecting an increasing urgency within these movements. Many activists view such direct actions as necessary to raise awareness and provoke public discourse about the climate crisis and the perceived inaction of governments and corporations.

The National Gallery quickly confirmed that the paintings were unharmed, and they were removed for inspection but returned to display shortly after.

This ongoing confrontation between climate activism and legal repercussions illustrates the escalating tensions surrounding environmental issues in the U.K. as activists grapple with the implications of their protests in an increasingly polarized social and political landscape.

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David John Voss sentenced for 5 years for the major art fraud case exploiting the famous Canadian Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau

David John Voss, 52, has been sentenced to five years in prison following his guilty plea to charges of forgery and uttering forged documents. The case, which is being described as Canada's largest art fraud investigation, involved a vast scheme to create and sell counterfeit artworks falsely attributed to the late Anishinaabe artist Norval Morrisseau.

The sentencing took place on Thursday, with Superior Court Justice Bonnie Warkentin emphasizing the profound damage inflicted on Morrisseau's legacy. The judge noted that the fraudulent activities not only aimed for economic gain but also irrevocably tarnished Morrisseau's cultural and spiritual contributions.

Image of Norval Morrisseau

Norval Morrisseau, an influential figure in Canadian art, was born in 1932 and hailed from the Ojibway Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation in northwestern Ontario. He is renowned for founding the Woodlands School of Art, a movement known for its vibrant and spiritual depictions of Indigenous life. Morrisseau's distinctive style features bold colors and intricate symbols rooted in Anishinaabe traditions and mythology. His work earned significant acclaim, with exhibitions held at major galleries across Canada, including Rideau Hall in Ottawa, and his pieces are celebrated for their deep cultural significance.

Morrisseau passed away in 2007 at the age of 75. His contributions to art and Indigenous culture have been recognized widely, cementing his status as one of Canada’s most revered artists. According to court proceedings, Voss orchestrated an elaborate fraud ring from 1996 to 2019. The operation involved an assembly-line process where Voss and his associates created thousands of fake Morrisseau paintings. Painters followed a 'paint by numbers' system to replicate the artist's style.

This evidence photo released by the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada shows a forgery of artwork by legendary Canadian Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau. Photo by HANDOUT / Ontario Provincial Police /AFP via Getty Images

In March 2023, eight individuals were charged in connection with the fraud ring. Gary Lamont, considered the ringleader, was sentenced to five years in prison in December 2023. Other defendants include Diane Marie Champagne, Linda Joy Tkachyk, and Benjamin Paul Morrisseau from Thunder Bay, as well as Jeffrey Gordon Cowan, James White, and David P. Bremner from other locations. Charges against Champagne were withdrawn during Thursday’s proceedings.

A piece of Indigenous artwork on a table. One of more than 1,000 paintings seized by Ontario Provincial Police in connection with an art fraud investigation involving fake paintings attributed to Norval Morrisseau. (Ontario Provincial Police)

The fraud's impact on Morrisseau's estate has been severe, with Cory Dingle, the executive director, revealing that the estate faces estimated losses of at least $100 million. Dingle called for restitution and proposed legal reforms to prevent future occurrences. He also urged for continued assistance from those involved in identifying the fake artworks.

While the Crown did not pursue restitution due to the complexities involved, Dingle emphasized the need for changes to Canadian law to better address and remedy such frauds. This case highlights the broader implications of art fraud on cultural heritage and the challenges faced in combating such crimes.

- J.Larson

The Hunt: $200 Million Worth of Art Is Still Missing From a Paraguay Museum

Thieves dug a tunnel to steal European masterworks back in 2002.

A photograph of a majestic white art museum against blue skies, partially obscured by a palm frond National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes), Asuncion, Paraguay. Photo: MJ Photography / Alamy Stock Photo Vittoria Benzine July 15, 2024

In July 2002, a heist at the National Museum of Fine Arts of Asunción in Paraguay rocked the world, not only due to the lost masterworks, which were valued at around $200 million, but the elaborate ploy the thieves used to pull off their robbery. They favored European paintings, with a haul that included a self-portrait by Tintoretto, Tête de Femme by Adolphe Piolt, a landscape by Gustave Courbet, a Madonna and Child by Bartolomé Estéban Murillo, and an unattributed 16th-century portrait of Saint Jerome.

The museum was founded in 1909, 67 years after Paraguay officially declared its independence from the Spanish Empire. It occupies the same building as the National Archives, and holds 650 artworks ranging from paintings to ceramics, alongside antique coins and more from the collection of the inaugural director-general Juan Silvano Godoi.

The museum’s founding was meant to mark a new chapter for the republic, but centuries of political volatility could partially explain why the institution hadn’t managed to install any security cameras to capture the thieves on film.

Instead, a shocking, subterranean discovery told the story. Authorities found that an 80-feet tunnel had been dug to connect the museum with a health food store across the street.

Further investigation revealed that the men who’d opened that store had used fake identities. They had even carved out another leg of the tunnel that led to the parking lot of a hotel nearby, which the bandits likely used to escape.

A scan of a portion of a portrait painting of a coy young woman lit dramatically against a black background Adolphe Piot, Tete de Femme (date unknown). Photo: The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

Legend of the haul lives on and international police forces have scoured the black market ever since. Only one opportunity has presented itself so far. In 2008, the National Centre for Cultural Heritage Protection at the INTERPOL-Argentina Department received a tip that the lost “San Gerónimo” by an anonymous artist and valued at $200,000 was up for illicit sale in Posadas, Argentina.

Soon enough, a police fact-finding mission accompanied by Argentinean Federal forces recovered the painting in mint condition. The work was back home by that July, as part of a larger push by Argentinian authorities to repatriate stolen artwork found on their soil.

Those forces are probably still monitoring the art world’s underbelly for the remaining lost artworks. Meanwhile, the museum has taken matters into their own hands. In February, the institution commissioned five contemporary painters to recreate the lost artworks while 700 fascinated attendees watched on.

The resulting canvases went on view in an exhibition that opened on March 22, and is slated to stay up for awhile. Although the decision doesn’t make it seem like the museum has much hope the works will ever turn up, at least they’re capitalizing on the unexpected notoriety of hosting Paraguay’s one-time robbery of the century.

The Hunt explores art and ancient relics that are—alas!—lost to time. From the Ark of the Covenant to Cleopatra’s tomb, these legendary treasures have long captured the imaginations of historians and archaeologists, even if they remain buried under layers of sand, stone, and history.

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/the-hunt-paraguay-museum-heist-2463477