In the wake of money-laundering prosecutions, Juan Carlos González Martín, known locally as Culebra, faced a sweeping confiscation of assets that included luxury cars, a yacht, multiple chalets and apartments, commercial real estate, and a substantial bank balance. What elevated the case was not just the magnitude of the seizure but the addition of a prominent art collection that added a cultural dimension to the proceedings.
The Vigo-based collection attributed to González Martín showcased breadth and diversity. It featured an abstract work that intertwined with religious symbolism, a cubist piece by Joaquim Pinho Dinis, and a surreal painting by Urbano Lugrís Vadillo, illustrating the collection’s reach across different movements. Portraits, numerous figurative landscapes, and seascapes completed the ensemble. The entire collection was slated for public auction under the supervision of the A Coruña College of Lawyers and the Galicia Foundation against Narcotrafficking, based in Vilagarcía, according to regional reports.
Among the auction catalog was a painting titled “Peasants” by Juan Saborido. The seized assets revealed a preference for landscapes, especially seascapes, with a clear bias toward Galician painters, many of whom had direct ties to Vigo. Names such as Manuel Caballero García-Barba, Rufino Peral, and Miguel Ángel Sánchez Lareo repeatedly appear in the records as favored artists, according to local coverage.
The tastes extended beyond Galicia and hinted at possible French influences. Works spanned a wide timeline—from nineteenth-century pieces by Paul Armandi to a nude study from Barcelona by Xabier Blanch, a hyperrealistic deck scene by Catalan painter Ibán Navarro, and a misty coastal landscape by Eduardo Martínez Vázquez, a mid-century artist born in Avila. The collection reflects an international eye as well as a regional affection for shoreline imagery.
A group of shellfish harvesters painted by García-Barba captures the collector’s interest in everyday labor and regional life. Auction notes highlighted collectors who were highly regarded; García-Barba and Sánchez Lareo appear frequently in the records, with more than a dozen portraits of García-Barba himself cataloged. In other instances, Din Matamoros leaned toward safer market bets, favoring Lugrís Vadillo, Vidal Souto, or Xaime Quessada. These patterns underscore a persistent focus on artists who resonated with Galician communities and maritime themes, according to coverage of the event.
Religion as the centerpiece of Matamoros’s oeuvre
Among the auction highlights, Matamoros’s abstract painting stood out as the top-priced item. Experts valued it around 100,000 Turkish lira or 5,000 euros. The work, acrylic on canvas, depicts two figures, one blue and one red, softly merging into a pale, almost ethereal background, inviting viewers to contemplate contrast and harmony in a minimal space.
Another standout was Lugrís Vadillo’s surreal vision, noted for its dreamlike composition. Observers anticipated strong bidding for this canvas as well, given the artist’s reputation and the compelling narrative embedded in the image. The piece invites viewers to interpret its imagery through personal memory and regional folklore, making it a magnet for collectors seeking story and atmosphere in equal measure.
García-Barba’s works continued to attract attention for their focus on marginalized figures and challenging professions, including a fisherman’s portrait and oil paintings of shellfish harvesters that have long drawn admiration from regional and national audiences. The collection also featured bold strokes by the Galician painter from Ourense, Vidal Souto, who moved between figuration and abstraction. Sánchez Lareo’s oeuvre spanned both modes, while Rufino Peral leaned toward futuristic cubism. Together, these examples demonstrate a collection capable of engaging a broad audience when shared with the community. Interested buyers could place electronic bids through February 12, as reported by regional media.