Picasso's Electrician Goes on Trial Over Lost Stash

Pierre Le Guennec says painter gave him 271 works, estate begs to differ
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 10, 2015 8:21 AM CST
Picasso's Electrician Goes on Trial Over Lost Stash
Son of Pablo Picasso, Claude Ruiz Picasso, leaves the trial of Pierre Le Guennec at Grasse criminal court, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, in southeastern France,   (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

Would Picasso have donated 271 works to an electrician who worked for him for a few years in southeast France? A French court began to contemplate that mystery today at the start of a three-day trial of Pierre Le Guennec and his wife, Danielle. They claim that the artist, or his wife, gave them the 180 lithographs, collages, and paintings and 91 drawings around 1970 when Le Guennec was working as a general handyman at Picasso's estate. Picasso heirs and a state prosecutor describe the couple's account as ridiculous. Le Guennec quietly kept the works in a garage for decades. Produced between 1900 and 1932, the works have never been displayed publicly. The Le Guennecs face up to five years in prison and a $423,000 fine if convicted for concealing stolen goods.

The case is shaping up largely as one of "he said, she said" because potential witnesses have died, hard evidence of theft may be hard to come by, and even the state's own case doesn't mention who may have stolen it. About five years ago, Le Guennec began worrying about legal headaches for his children, so he contacted the Picasso administration to have the works assessed. A few days later, they were confiscated by police. The Le Guennecs have different versions about how they got the art. Pierre allegedly recalled that Picasso's then-wife, Jacqueline, handed him a closed box containing the works, saying, "Here, it's for you. Take it home"—and they never discussed it again. Danielle recalled that her husband came home with a stuffed trash bag and told her that Picasso had given the works to him. The artist had been tidying his studio, according to that version. (More Pierre Le Guennec stories.)

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