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Police Question Ex-Butler Over Artworks Seized in Portuguese House
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Quick Summary
Portuguese police seized 278 artworks—including pieces possibly by Picasso, Miró, Hockney and Dürer—in a villa in Penalva do Castelo belonging to a deceased U.S. collector; they are questioning the former butler on suspicion of trying to sell them.
Police Seize Hundreds of Artworks, Question Ex-Butler in Portuguese Investigation
Major Art Seizure Linked to High-Profile Investigation
Details of the Police Operation
LISBON, April 24 (Reuters) - Police said on Friday they had seized 278 artworks, including paintings possibly by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, at a house in Portugal, and were questioning the former butler of the late owner on suspicion of trying to sell some of them.
Ownership and Authenticity Concerns
Officers said the artworks, whose authenticity is yet to be confirmed, were thought to belong to a U.S. citizen who had lived in the town of Penalva do Castelo and died in 2024. They were found in the possession of the former employee, they added.
Ongoing Investigation and Collaboration
The police statement said an investigation was underway, but did not go into further details on any charges.
The raids and searches under "Operation Butler" were carried out in collaboration with experts from the National Museum Machado de Castro, police said.
Artworks and Artists Involved
The artworks were attributed to 27 different artists, from German Renaissance master Albrecht Durer, to Spanish modernists Picasso and Miro, to British Pop Art painter David Hockney. The trove also includes sculptures and other artefacts.
Reporting and Editorial Information
(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Andrei Khalip and Andrew Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Officers recovered 278 items—paintings, sculptures and artefacts—from periods spanning Prehistory to modern art, including works attributed to Picasso, Miró, David Hockney and Dürer, with authenticity yet to be confirmed
- •The house belonged to a U.S. citizen who died in 2024; the former butler is now a suspect in attempted sale of the artworks
- •The operation, dubbed “Operation Butler,” was conducted in collaboration with experts from the National Museum Machado de Castro
Frequently Asked Questions about Police question ex-butler over artworks seized in Portuguese house
1How many artworks were seized by police in Portugal?
Police seized 278 artworks from a house in Penalva do Castelo, Portugal.
2Who is being questioned in relation to the seized artworks?
The former butler of the late owner is being questioned by police.
3Are any famous artists' works among the seized pieces?
The collection includes pieces possibly by Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Albrecht Durer, and David Hockney.
4Has the authenticity of the seized artworks been confirmed?
The authenticity of the artworks is yet to be confirmed by authorities.
5Which Portuguese institution is involved in the investigation?
Experts from the National Museum Machado de Castro are collaborating with police in the investigation.
