According to the investigators' findings so far, the works of art seized by the police include paintings and sculptures by 27 artists. The statement issued by the police specified that the items confiscated by the officers included works by David Hockney, Albrecht Durer, Pierre Bonnard and Pablo Picasso.
A collection worth millions of euros
These include paintings, lithographs, serigraphs, sculptures, as well as objects from archaeological excavations and other cultural goods, said the Portuguese police, specifying that they seized the works of art during searches at several properties in Penalva do Castelo, in the Viseu district.
The collection, valued at millions of euros, includes, among others: artifacts from the Neolithic, Greco-Roman periods and from culturally diverse places such as Persia, the Middle East, Africa and China.
The identification of the seized works and their authenticity were possible thanks to the support the police received from the National Museum. Machado de Castro in Coimbra.
Investigators believe that the alleged American collector who died in 2024 could in fact be a member of a criminal group specializing in theft of works of art.
