José Capelo

José Capelo Blanco (born January 1956) is a Spanish banker who was a friend of the British artist Francis Bacon. He was the subject of a 1987 portrait, Portrait of José Capelo and Triptych 1991.[1] Capelo was given paintings and US$4 million by the artist, something Bacon would later confide he regretted doing, before his death in 1992.

José Capelo
Born
José Capelo Blanco

January 1956 (age 65)
CitizenshipSpanish
OccupationBanker
Plaza de la Encarnación, Madrid

José Capelo was born in January 1956.[2]

Capelo and Bacon met in 1988 at a party hosted by the British choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton.[3]

In 2014, it was reported by The Sunday Times that in taped conversations Bacon had with his friend Barry Joule, which were not released until 12 years after Bacon's 1992 death (in accordance with Bacon's wishes), Bacon had fallen in love with Capelo and they had had an affair.[4] The Art Gallery of New South Wales called it a "final passionate affair".[5] Capelo has denied any romantic connection.[3]

The 1987 portrait, Portrait of José Capelo is owned by the Swiss gallery, Galerie Gmurzynksa.[6]

In March 2016, it was revealed that in July 2015, thieves had broken into Capelo's apartment in Madrid's Plaza de la Encarnacion and stolen five Bacon paintings worth a total of about Euro 30 million, although the details of the actual works has not been released.[3][7]

References
  1. Dalya Alberge (2 February 2014). "Francis Bacon gave secret $4m to beloved banker". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  2. "Jose CAPELO - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. Graham Keeley. "Thieves take Bacon works worth €30m". The Times. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  4. "Secret tape: UK's Francis Bacon had Spanish muse - The Local". Thelocal.es. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  5. "More about Bacon :: Francis Bacon". Art Gallery NSW. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  6. "Germano Celant Curates Gmurzynska in Miami—artnet News". News.artnet.com. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  7. "Francis Bacon Paintings Stolen in Madrid - artnet News". News.artnet.com. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
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