Picasso painting worth $70 million 'accidentally damaged' before Christie's auction

Damaged: Le Marin, a 1943 painting by Pablo Picasso, has been withdrawn from sale
AFP/Getty Images
Ailis Brennan15 May 2018

Christie’s auction house will withdraw a Picasso painting from sale after it was “accidentally damaged” at the presale exhibition.

Le Marin, a 1943 painting by the acclaimed artist, had been valued at $70 million and was due to go on sale in New York on May 15.

In a statement, Christie’s said that “two outside conservators have now been consulted and have made recommendations for the successful restoration of the painting.”

The painting was owned by casino mogul Steve Wynn, who doesn't seem to have much luck on the expensive painting front: twelve years ago, he reportedly put his elbow through the canvas of Le Rêve, a much-celebrated 1932 artwork also by Picasso.

The exact nature of the damage caused to the painting or how it came about has not been revealed.

Christie’s also said in the statement that it “has a very high standard of care for the objects entrusted to us and we have taken immediate measures to remedy the matter in partnership with our client. No further information is available at this time.”

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