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Posted on 12/27/2025 10:26:43 AM PST by nickcarraway
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, thieves broke into a parish church in the Sevillian town of Paradas, mistakenly stealing a replica of a painting by El Greco after believing it to be the original work. The incident occurred at the Church of San Eutropio, where both the authentic artwork and a publicly displayed copy are housed.
The stolen piece was a replica of La Magdalena Penitente, a painting attributed to the 16th-century artist Doménikos Theotokópoulos, known as El Greco. The original painting remains inside the church and was not removed, as it is kept behind protective iron bars and additional security measures.
According to investigators, the offenders entered the building at approximately 4.00am, gaining access through a secondary entrance near the sacristy. An alarm was triggered shortly afterwards, alerting authorities to the intrusion.
Security measures prevented access to the authentic painting
While the thieves succeeded in removing the replica, they were unable to access the original artwork, which is displayed separately from the copy and protected by reinforced security. The authentic painting has long been kept behind metal bars, specifically to prevent theft or damage, while the replica was placed in a more accessible area for visitors.
The error indicates that the perpetrators clearly mistook the replica for the original, either due to lack of detailed knowledge of where the original was located or due to insufficient planning. The original El Greco painting, holds considerable artistic and historical value.
Guardia Civil launches investigation Police examine possibility of targeted art theft
The Guardia Civil’s Judicial Police unit attended the scene later that morning to conduct a forensic inspection of the church. Officers collected fingerprints and other potential evidence as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft.
One of the working hypotheses is that the break-in may have been an attempted theft on commission, with the offenders acting under the belief that they could obtain a valuable artwork. However, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not confirmed whether the robbery was organised or opportunistic.
La Magdalena Penitente and its presence in Paradas A significant work linked to El Greco’s legacy
La Magdalena Penitente is considered one of El Greco’s most recognisable religious compositions, typically dated to the late 16th century. The painting depicts Mary Magdalene in a moment of spiritual contemplation and is notable for its dramatic use of colour, elongated forms and emotional intensity.
The version kept in Paradas has been associated with the church for centuries, though historians continue to debate aspects of its provenance. Due to its importance, the parish introduced a replica so that visitors could view the image more closely without compromising the safety of the original.
Local reaction and renewed focus on heritage security Incident highlights vulnerabilities in small communities
The heist has caused concern among residents of Paradas, where the painting forms part of the town’s cultural identity. While there has been relief that the original artwork remains secure, the incident has prompted renewed discussion about the protection of cultural heritage in rural areas.
Despite existing security preventing the theft of the original, the incident has exposed ongoing vulnerabilities in historic buildings, particularly churches that remain open to the public and rely on limited resources.
Key points
-The theft occurred at approximately 4.00am at the Church of San Eutropio in Paradas, Sevilla
-Thieves stole a replica of La Magdalena Penitente, mistakenly believing it to be the original
-The authentic El Greco painting remained protected behind iron bars and security systems
-The Guardia Civil is investigating, with no arrests made so far
-Authorities are examining whether the incident was an attempted art theft on commission
A failed theft with wider implications Authorities continue search for stolen replica
As the investigation continues, police hope to locate the stolen replica and identify those responsible for the break-in. Although the material loss is limited, the incident serves as a reminder of the challenges involved in safeguarding artistic heritage outside major urban centres.
For now, the original El Greco painting remains in place, protected as intended, while authorities work to ensure that a case of mistaken identity does not escalate into a more serious threat to Spain’s cultural legacy.
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Ping
What idiot does an art heist??? Where you gonna sell it fool?
Greek is hard. They should have run with something Latin.
Truly, I say to you,
“Get a job”.
Thieves snatch items for garage sale.
Interesting article on this topic:
A theory that El Greco suffered with astigmatism, an eye condition affecting his paintings' perspective, has been debated since 1913.And I say, what else could it be?
'Shrooms.
Usually it’s for some covetous collector for their personal collection.
Hey Grec, you be trippin?
Those are usuok movies.
Those are usually OK movies
Lol.
Wouldn’t mind a print of that in the hall. Wife has some bizarre stuff....
Well in the first James Bond movie Dr. No they placed one in Dr. No’s lair....from IMDB
A Francisco de Goya painting of the Duke of Wellington, stolen in August 1961 from London’s National Gallery, is found on an easel next to the stairs in Dr. No’s dining area, which is why Bond stops to notice it as he passes it while going up the stairs. It was recovered in 1965. When this movie first came out, British audiences laughed upon seeing the Goya, knowing it had been stolen. According to director Terence Young, the idea for the stolen painting prop came from the film’s Irish co-screenwriter Johanna Harwood.
Lots of private collectors with hidden private collections, jeez have you never watched Perry Mason, or Columbo.😁
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