Corsica seized a Picasso worth over 25 million euros – El Universal (Venezuela)

PARIS The French customs service announced today have intercepted last Friday in Corsica a Picasso valued at over 25 million, belonging to the Spanish banker Jaime Botin, and had destination Switzerland despite being declared as exportable by the Spanish authorities.

The painting “Head of a Young Woman”, caught the attention of Customs officials Bastia, who claimed the owner of the ship carrying, and that was moored in the marina of Calvi, the relevant papers.

The Man “could only present an evaluation of the work, as well as a written report in May 2015 Castilian Audience Spanish national, confirming that it was a Spanish national treasure that in no case could go to Spain, “said the statement.

The work, according to the statement issued by the French media, belonged to Botin, of 79, who was not present when agents aborted this attempt to export, which was not done in his name.

The Spanish Justice had prohibited the brother of the late president of Santander, Emilio Botin, out of the country last May, endorsing a decision taken by the Ministry of Education July 26, 2013, which confirmed its “inexportabilidad”.

The work had been considered “unique” by those responsible for the Cultural Heritage Spanish, while the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid had stressed its “exceptional importance”.

The case stems from the request made on December 13, 2012 the signing of Christie’s Ibérica the secretariat Spanish Culture State for final export to London.

The Board of Classification, Valuation and Export of Spanish Historical Heritage Assets agreed a few days later to deny authorization “does not exist such a work in the territory Spanish “.

The agency argued that it was” one of the few made by the author in the period Gósol stage where Picasso is clearly influenced by the plastic of Iberian art and findings conducted then they have a decisive influence, not only in Cubism, but also on the subsequent evolution of the painting of the twentieth century. “

The French authorities now expect the eventual request of their Spanish counterparts to recover the work, Booty acquired in January 1977 from the Marlborough Fine Art in London bound for his private collection in Spain.