Final Fragment of 17th-Century Flemish Tapestry Recovered by Spanish Police

Wed, 06 May 2026 23:18:00 +0200

Spanish authorities have recovered the last missing piece of a 17th-century Flemish tapestry, titled 'Apotheosis of the Arts,' which had been stolen 42 years ago. The large tapestry, measuring 4 by 6.5 meters, was one of six stolen from the Church of Santo Domingo in Castrojeriz, northern Spain, on November 7, 1980, by René Alphonse van den Berge, better known as Eric the Belgian, a notorious international art thief. While all six tapestries were eventually recovered through an Interpol-led investigation across Spain, France, and Belgium, the lower left fragment depicting a cherub remained missing for decades. Spanish police located the fragment through van den Berge's lawyer, who returned it to its rightful owners. Van den Berge, described as an art dealer, restorer, writer, and thief, led a criminal group that stole religious artworks for wealthy collectors and the black market. Arrested in 1982 and released three years later, he never admitted guilt during his lifetime. In 2012, he