THIEVES have stolen around 70 original works of art from a gallery in Madrid, valued at upwards of 600,000 euros, reveals the owner's father.
Pedro Márquez, who ran the Puerta de Alcalá art museum before handing it over to his son, says intruders gained entry by breaking into a disused bar, Las Tablas, next door to the gallery at number 67 of the C/ Alcalá, close to the iconic city-centre archway, and making a hole in the wall.
This was said to be some time between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
Witnesses called the police after seeing a small group of people described as eastern European leaving the building at night carrying pictures.
Several of these were original works by Valencia-born artist Eustaquio Segrelles, whose uncle José Segrelles was illustrator to 19th-century novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, also from Valencia, whose works often centred on villages in and around the famous Albufera wetlands in the south of the province.
And 14 paintings of a collection of 30 by Sevilla artist Pablo Segarra Chías which formed part of a special exhibition were taken.
Others had been painted by famous national artists of various eras including Miguel Acevedo, Juan González Alacreu (pictured right) and Josep Royo (pictured left).
The thieves may have been commissioned by an organised gang with strong connections to or knowledge of the art world, given that very select works were taken.
