Ajit Karn
Barcelona: Two drawings by the surrealist painter Salvador Dali, one of which is 100 years old and the other of which was taken in Barcelona during a burglary a year ago, have been found by the Spanish police.
The police said that they had apprehended three brothers, ages 50, 53, and 55, and confiscated two paintings that Dali had created in 1922 to illustrate a book titled “Las Gracies de Emporda” at the request of the book’s author, Pere Coromines. The police stated that they had made the arrests.
In addition, they took other pieces of art, including several graphic works by a fellow Spanish artist named Joan Miro, as well as luxury watches and expensive coins and currencies.
According to the authorities, the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation, which is in possession of the rights to the late painter’s works, certified the artworks, which consisted of two gloomy rural scenes sketched on brown paper.
The three brothers are accused by the Catalan police of particularly targeting residences in the Barcelona area that contained art works and collections of coins and other antiquities. The thefts are said to have taken place in January.
Two further persons were apprehended by the police for receiving stolen property. In advance of their trials, the three suspected burglars were freed on bond, while the other two defendants were allowed to remain free until the outcome of their cases.
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In addition to the two Dalis, five Miros, and two paintings by Paco Sola that are now undergoing authenticity tests, the police also confiscated 55 luxury watches, silver and golden pens, diamonds, and many collections of coins and currencies from various eras and countries.
It is believed that the items originated from a string of burglaries that were committed during the last several months.
