"Royal Opera House" sold it to overcome the repercussions of the "pandemic"

14 million euros earned by David Hockney's painting

The painting depicts David Webster's director between 1945 and 1970

Yesterday, the Royal Opera House in London sold a painting by British painter David Hockney for 12.8 million pounds (14.2 million euros), at an auction organized by the Sotheby's, seeking the Royal Opera House to confront the financial implications of the pandemic. Covid-19.

The painting represents the director of Royal Opera House between 1945 and 1970, Sir David Webster, and it is estimated that it will sell between 11 and 18 million pounds (between 12 and 20 million euros).

The Opera House had announced in early October that it would have to sell this painting, which dates back to 1971, in order to overcome the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The house's current director, Alex Bird, said in a statement that selling the painting "is a vital aspect" of its recovery plan at a time when it is facing the "biggest crisis" in its history.

In general, British cultural institutions suffered significant financial losses as a result of the closure during the quarantine phase associated with the pandemic that led to the death of more than 44,000 people in Britain, which is the largest number of deaths from the emerging corona virus in Europe.

Royal Opera House did not deviate from this rule, as its income has declined by more than half since the beginning of the health crisis, although it reopened its doors last June and presented performances without an audience, only broadcasting them via the Internet.

In addition to selling this painting, the famous London house intends to organize a fundraising campaign, dispensing with the services of a number of its employees, as well as relying on receiving government support to contribute to its recovery.

The British government announced, in early July, that it would support the cultural sector with 1.57 billion pounds (1.74 billion euros).

The announcement was well received, but the value of the support was considered insufficient.

British cultural institutions in general suffered significant financial losses as a result of the closure.

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