18th-Century Artwork of St. Francis of Assisi Found and Restored to Mexican Church Following 24-Year Disappearance
An 18th-century artwork of St. Francis of Assisi was taken from the Church of San Francisco de Asis in Mexico, along with seven other religious pieces in 2001. Now, almost 25 years later, the artwork has been returned to the temple, situated an hour north of Mexico City and about a mile from the Teotihuacán archaeological site.
The *Saint Francis of Assisi* (1747) painting’s journey back began in 2017, when it made its way to the Morton Subastas auction house. At that time, it was valued at between 120,000 and 280,000 Mexican pesos ($6,360 and $14,840, respectively, based on average currency rates in 2017). Morton began the cataloguing process, which involved taking pictures and signing a contract with the previous possessor. This process also included entering the artwork into [Art Loss Register](https://www.artloss.com/), a global database housing around 700,000 stolen artworks, antiques, and collectibles.
To their astonishment, Art Loss Register informed them of a report concerning that specific painting. “We halted the auction process,” David Collepardo, the antiques and books manager at Morton, stated to [*El País*](https://elpais.com/mexico/2025-11-11/recuperan-un-oleo-de-san-francisco-de-asis-del-siglo-xviii-robado-en-teotihuacan-hace-24-anos.html). “Art Loss Register filed the relevant complaints with the prosecutor’s office, and we attempted to reach out to the owner who provided us with the piece, but we received no reply.” This initiated an in-depth investigation and legal process that spanned eight years. Only earlier in 2025 did authorities inform the auction house that they could finally commence the procedure to return the painting to the church.
The artwork, measuring 62.5 inches tall by 39.7 inches wide, presents the full figure of St. Francis. In the portrait, the Catholic friar is depicted wearing the distinctive brown robes of the Franciscans, with a cord tied in three knots, symbolizing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. His hands exhibit stigmata as he grasps a skull in his right hand and a crucifix in his left.
The image contains an inscription dedicated to an Indigenous leader named Gregorio Juan, depicted as a small figure kneeling in prayer before the saint. Although the artwork remains unsigned, it is thought to have been created by Antonio de Torres, one of the most renowned and prolific painters of the era, as evidenced by a very similar piece by him in a museum in Monterrey, northern Mexico.
The artwork was officially re-hung in its original location during a joyful handover ceremony. Over 1,000 attendees celebrated with vibrant sawdust carpets adorned with religious and Indigenous motifs, along with dance, food, and prayer. Of the eight stolen paintings, only this one has been returned, yet Art Loss Register holds a hopeful outlook.
“We anticipate that this significant recovery will motivate both victims of other historical thefts and auction houses and art dealers to continue emphasizing due diligence,” [writes](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ6xu3vjKVs/) Art Loss Register, which praised Morton Subastas for their ethical actions. “It serves as a reminder that stolen cultural heritage, feared to be lost forever, can be reclaimed and returned to its rightful place.”
Sources: [Recuperan un óleo de San Francisco de Asís del siglo XVIII robado en Teotihuacán hace 24 años](https://elpais.com/mexico/2025-11-11/recuperan-un-oleo-de-san-francisco-de-asis-del-siglo-xviii-robado-en-teotihuacan-hace-24-anos.html); [Recuperan obra de arte sacro, robada hace 24 años en el Estado de México](https://www.revistacentral.com.mx/cultura/recuperan-obra-arte-sacro-robada-hace-24-anos-en-el-estado-mexico)
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