France stopped a Picasso on a boat – The Universal

cultura@eluniversal.com.mx

The oil Head of a Woman (Head of a Young Woman) , the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, valued at over 25 million euros, was intercepted by French Customs on the island of Corsica (France), while traveling in a luxurious ship bound for Switzerland, despite having the prohibition of export issued by the Spanish authorities.

The work was acquired by Jaime Botin, brother of the late banker Emilio Botin (former president of Banco Santander) and majority shareholder of the bank in January 1977 at the Marlborough Gallery Finer Art in London for your particular in Spain collection.

The piece was aboard the Alix, boat Botin, but according to British media is in the name of society Cherokee Bay Limited, based since February 12, 2009 on the island of Guernsey.

As confirmed yesterday the French police, customs officials of the office of Bastia in Corsica (France), July 31 boarded the ship carrying the painting, which at that time was berthed in the Marina Calvi. When requesting documentation they discovered he had a document assessment of the work and a copy of the decision of the National Court in Madrid issued last May confirming that it was a Cultural Interest that can not leave Spain.

This is not the first time that Botín has tried to make the work of Spain. The first was in 2012, when he was traveling to London via the company Euroshipping Charter Company Ltd. December 13, 2012, the Christie’s auction firm Iberian asked the Spanish Secretary of State for Culture license for final export London. But the Board of Classification, Valuation and Export of Spanish Historical Heritage Assets agreed a few days later deny authorization arguing that “there is a similar work in the Spanish territory.”

The agency said 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 at that time have a decisive influence, not only in Cubism, but also in the subsequent evolution of the painting of the twentieth century. “

The Ministry of Education, July 26, 2013, confirmed its” inexportabilidad “having been considered” unique “by those responsible for the Spanish Historical Heritage.

Since then, agents Heritage Group of the Central Operational Unit of the Spanish Civil Guard were tracking box.

Now the Directorate General of Customs and Excise France is awaiting indications from the Spanish authorities. Although the Spanish Minister of Culture, Inigo Mendez de Vigo announced yesterday that Spain will petition and that Spain will keep the box.