This Spanish painter known as the ‘Galician Picasso’ has been found dead with his body partially eaten by his own starving dogs.
Artist Alfredo Labajjo Grandio, 80, has reportedly been found dead in his home in an isolated area in the village of Vilafiz in the province of Lugo, in the north-western Spanish province of Lugo.
The alert was raised by a taxi driver who usually took him to the village once per week but had not heard from the artist for 20 days.
The Spanish Civil Guard then went to Grandio’s home and found his body “with bites, allegedly done by animals”.
Reports state the body appeared to have been dead for some time and was allegedly not complete. It is reported that one of his dogs, due to a lack of food, is thought to have eaten some of his arm but this has not been confirmed by the authorities.
The Spanish Civil Guard reported to local newspaper El Progreso de Lugo, that no evidence showing Grandio had suffered a violent death had been found.
The Mayor of the municipality, Jose Angel Santos, said that this is a “sad” story for the local residents. Reports state nobody had noticed he had died because his house is far away from his neighbours and according to reports, he did not have any relationships with his neighbours.
The artist was reportedly known as the ‘Galician Picasso’ because his work was similar to that of fellow Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.
A veterinary clinic are now looking after his dogs and officers from the Spanish Civil Guard are guarding his paintings in his home to prevent them from being stolen.
Grandio first started to participate in exhibitions in 1973. He lived in Madrid for 30 years but he ended up moving to Lugo province, firstly in the village of Os Ancares and later to Vilafiz to keep on painting alone.
He often expressed his appreciation for Picasso and according to reports, he even met the Spanish artist once at an exhibition, where they talked in the Gallego language after Picasso was told Grandio was from Galicia.
His paintings reportedly present traditional scenes with animals, mythology and symbolism.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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