Missing Picasso Painting Recovered in Madrid Weeks After Disappearance

Madrid, October 24: Spanish authorities have successfully recovered a 1919 Pablo Picasso painting, Still Life with Guitar, which vanished earlier this month before it was due to go on display in a temporary exhibition in southern Spain. The small framed artwork, painted by the legendary artist over a century ago, had sparked an extensive police search after mysteriously disappearing during transit between Madrid and Granada. According to a statement released by Spain’s National Police on Friday, the painting was found in Madrid following an investigation led by the historical heritage brigade. The work had been listed as missing after it failed to arrive with a shipment of other artworks intended for the Granada exhibition organized by the CajaGranada Foundation. Police sources said that preliminary findings suggest the painting may never have been loaded onto the transport truck before it departed Madrid. However, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of human error or a lapse in protocol. Authorities are continuing their inquiries to determine whether the incident involved negligence or criminal intent. In a post shared on X, the Spanish police confirmed the recovery and shared photographs of forensic experts examining the artwork. The specialists, dressed in sterile bodysuits and masks, were seen handling the painting with utmost care to verify its authenticity and condition. Officials added that the piece appeared to be undamaged, though it will undergo further inspection by art conservators before being returned to its owner. The painting, owned by a private collector, had been part of a shipment of 58 works sent from Madrid to Granada for the upcoming exhibition. Upon arrival, staff at the CajaGranada Foundation noticed that only 57 pieces had been unloaded, prompting them to immediately notify authorities. A formal complaint was filed on October 10, triggering an investigation that spanned multiple locations and involved coordination with Interpol. To aid in the search, the missing Picasso was entered into Interpol’s global database of Stolen Works of Art, which tracks nearly 57,000 missing cultural items worldwide. This step ensured that any attempt to sell, transport, or register the artwork internationally would raise an alert. The CajaGranada Foundation later confirmed that surveillance footage from the unloading process supported the police’s initial assessment: the painting never appeared to have left Madrid with the rest of the collection. The Foundation expressed relief at the painting’s recovery and gratitude to Spanish law enforcement for their swift action. Painted in 1919, Still Life with Guitar reflects Picasso’s return to more classical forms following his Cubist period. Despite its modest size, the work is considered a fine example of the artist’s transitional style during the post-war years. The discovery of the painting brings a reassuring end to a brief but intense search that drew significant attention from Spain’s art community. While the investigation into the circumstances of its disappearance continues, officials emphasized that the recovery of the Picasso represents a victory for cultural heritage protection and international art security efforts. Missing Picasso Painting Recovered in Madrid Spanish police have recovered Pablo Picasso’s 1919 painting Still Life with Guitar, weeks after it mysteriously vanished before an exhibition in Granada. The artwork, owned by a private collector, was part of a shipment from Madrid when organizers discovered one piece missing upon arrival. Investigators believe the painting may never have been loaded onto the truck. Forensic experts confirmed the work’s authenticity and found it undamaged. Listed in Interpol’s stolen art database, the painting’s swift recovery highlights Spain’s strong heritage protection efforts and brings relief to the art world after the brief but alarming disappearance.