Art Confiscated during the Spanish Civil War

The largest movement of works of art in the history of Spain occurred during the Spanish Civil War and post war period. The revolutionary uprising, which involved the burning of churches and the occupation of palaces, led the Government of the Republic to set up the Junta de Incautación y Protección del Patrimonio Artístico (Board of Seizure and Protection of Artistic Heritage) which ordered the evacuation and taking into safe keeping of thousands of Spain´s most important artworks, among them, half a million pieces from the Prado Museum and many more from the Royal Palace. The National Artistic Heritage Defense Service, or SDPAN (Servicio de Defensa del Patrimonio Artístico Nacional) created in 1938, was responsible for the returns of these artworks at the end of the hostilties.  But with the establishment of the dictatorship many of the artworks (it´s estimated 40%) were never returned. Some remained in State Administration buildings and the whereabouts of many others is currently unknown.

In this talk, Patricia Fernández Lorenzo will be in conversation with David Jiménez García about the history of the art confiscated during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco Era and the complex process of restitution.