Lyon (AFP)
The former electrician Pablo Picasso and his wife on Tuesday argued before the Court of Appeal of Lyon that the 271 works of the artist in their possession were "a magnificent gift" of the widow of the artist.
If we had to redo it ? "I would do the same," said Pierre Le Guennec, a former craftsman, 80, devoted to "Madame", as he calls Jacqueline, the last wife of Picasso.
His wife, Danielle Le Guennec, 76, for her part, had "15 years of loyalty" with the widow of Picasso, who "telephoned twice a day".
Already condemned twice for the concealment of these works (drawings, lithographs, collages ...), the couple now ensures, after having supported in the first instance that the donation had been made during the lifetime of Picasso and with the agreement of this last, that the works were handed to them after the death of Picasso.
A change of version "for our children, so they have no trouble", justified Ms. Le Guennec, in a wheelchair.
"Madame asked me to put things in my house" when the widow was in dispute with the painter's heirs, said her husband to the bar. Later, Jacqueline would have asked her to return them, except one for which she said "Keep it, it's for you," according to him.
The couple kept the secret on "this wonderful gift" for nearly forty years. "It was perhaps a secret that was kept in our heart, it was ours," added the septuagenarian.
The works had resurfaced when Mr. Le Guennec had introduced himself to the son of the artist, Claude Ruiz-Picasso to authenticate a part, including a notebook of 91 sketches, all from 1900 to 1932. Les heirs had immediately complained.
"If I had been interested, I would have gone to see an expert or a gallery to sell them," said Le Guennec, not knowing "what it's worth".
© 2019 AFP