Picasso painting vanishes on way to Spanish exhibition

The work, painted in 1919, was to be presented at the CajaGranada Foundation exhibition as part of a group of loaned exhibits. The artwork, valued at around 600,000 euros, was transported by van from Madrid on October 3.

According to the foundation, the shipment arrived at its destination at around 10:00 a.m. local time. During unloading, it was noticed that some exhibits were incorrectly numbered, which made it impossible to carry out a detailed inspection immediately. Despite this, the delivery was accepted, and the van continued its route.

For several days, the packed artworks were kept under video surveillance and were not opened. When the organizers began unpacking the exhibits, the exhibition curator and the head of the exhibition department discovered the disappearance of the small Picasso work and immediately notified the police.

Spanish media suggest that the van may have stopped overnight near Granada, with the drivers taking turns guarding the cargo.

The painting Still Life with Guitar is a small work measuring 12.7 by 9.8 centimeters, owned by a private collector from Madrid. Law enforcement officers are now determining where the painting might have disappeared and whether it happened during transportation or after the cargo had arrived.

Louvre robbery

In France on the morning of Sunday, October 19, unknown perpetrators robbed the world-famous Louvre Museum. A number of valuables belonging to the family of Napoleon Bonaparte were stolen from the Apollo Gallery right before the eyes of visitors.

It is currently known that law enforcement officers have already found several of the stolen items, including the crown of Empress Eugénie, which the thieves damaged. More details about the robbery and the reaction to it can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.