Picasso's electrician quizzed by police after revealing artist's 'treasure trove'
Pablo Picasso's retired electrician is being questioned over hundreds of unknown works found in his house.
The treasure trove of 271 pieces includes lithographs, cubist paintings, notebooks and a watercolour and is said to be worth about 60m euros (£50.6m).
Pierre Le Guennec, 71, says Picasso gave him the works as gifts but the estate's administrators have filed a case for alleged illegal receipt of the works of art.
Le Guennec installed burglar alarm systems at Picasso's numerous houses in France before the artist died in 1973.
In September this year, the old electrician approached the artist's estate to try and get the canvases authenticated by Picasso's son, Claude.
But according to French newspaper Liberation Claude Picasso said that the Le Guennec's explanation about how he came into possession of the works did not add up and the family has already contacted the Central Office for the Fight Against Traffic in Cultural Goods.
The police have reportedly raided Le Guennec's home on the Cote d'Azur, confiscating the paintings and interviewing him under caution.
According to the BBC's reporter in Paris a multi-million dollar legal battle over the ownership of the paintings will now begin.
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UtopianSky
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I can definitely imagine Picasso paying the electrician with paintings.
- 1 year ago
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UtopianSky
