Rare Picasso painting, considered Spanish treasure, trapped in France after exportation attempt

A Picasso painting, owned by a famous Spanish banker, was seized by French authorities inside a boat docked in Corsica, attempting to export the art to Switzerland. According to the authorities, the team with the $27 million-worth "Spanish treasure" had no sufficient document to present and allow them back to their journey of transferring it to Switzerland. The painting is still in custody of the French custom officials who are waiting for the official request of the Spanish government for its recovery.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Picasso's "Head of a Young Woman" is owned by Jaime Botin, the 79-year-old well-known Spanish banker whose family founded the Satander banking group. However, he was not found aboard, while the ship was discovered owned by a bank flying the British flag.

French authorities did not find his name on the export request document presented by the ship captain.

French customs spokesperson explained that the captain only presented two documents about the Picasso, one was the Spanish court order dated May 2015 stating that the painting is a work of art and is not allowed to be taken out of Spain.

Meanwhile, the export request was filed December 2012 in order for the painting to be relocated in London, which was opposed by the Spanish government.

Earlier this year, the court sided with the argument, declaring that the "Head of a Young Woman" is "unexportable" due to its "cultural interest." The Spanish culture ministry argued that the art was very valuable for Spain and considered a treasure, saying there are no other works on the territory from that specific period of Picasso's life, stated reports.

Botin's arguments that the work of art should not be considered Spanish territory, as it was on a vessel waving the British flag, were consequently rejected.

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