Overview of the Missing Work
A small Picasso gouache and pencil drawing, titled Naturaleza muerta con guitarra (Still Life with Guitar), vanished while being delivered from Madrid to Granada for an exhibition. The piece, created in 1919, measures 12.7 cm by 9.8 cm and is valued at around €600,000. It was part of a private collection loaned to the CajaGranada foundation for the new show Still Life: the Eternity of the Inert, which opened recently in the southern Spanish city.
Delivery and Initial Check
According to the CajaGranada foundation, the artwork was on a consignment of loaned pieces that arrived by van from Madrid on Friday, October 3. The van was unloaded at 10:00 a.m., and staff undertook an exhaustive check. Some items were not correctly numbered, complicating the verification process, yet the delivery was signed off and the van departed with its crew. The timing and details of the packaging have become focal points in the investigation.
Discovery of the Theft
When the pieces were unpacked the following Monday, under the surveillance of the foundation’s video system over the weekend, staff moved the works to different areas of the exhibition room. Mid-morning that day, the exhibition’s curator and the foundation’s head of exhibitions realized that one work was missing: Still Life with Guitar by Picasso.
The foundation promptly contacted the Policía Nacional and stated that it was cooperating fully with investigators. Officials have not publicly named any suspects, but the case mirrors a long history of high-value art theft involving Picasso works. The empty space where the painting should have been is now a key piece of evidence in the inquiry.
What We Know About the Case
Authorities are examining various possibilities, including the van stopping overnight near Granada and the two crew members taking shifts to guard the package. The private ownership of the piece complicates the security narrative, as it traveled as part of a loan rather than as a museum-held object. The size and relative obscurity of Naturaleza muerta con guitarra make it more vulnerable to opportunistic theft, which is a concern highlighted by Spain’s art security community.
Historical Context of Picasso Thefts
Picasso’s fame and the high market value of his works have made him a perennial target for art thieves. International incidents have included multi-million euro thefts in Paris and the French Riviera, as well as incidents in central London and Avignon. While many cases are resolved with recoveries, others remain unresolved for years, underscoring the need for tight provenance checks and robust courier protocols for valuable loans.
What This Means for Exhibitions
The missing still life has sparked questions about how galleries and foundations verify loans and protect arriving artworks. Museums and foundations increasingly rely on video surveillance, secure packing, and digital inventories, but gaps in the process can still permit losses. In Granada, the incident has cast a shadow over the Still Life: the Eternity of the Inert exhibition, even as staff emphasize their commitment to transparency and swift resolution.
Next Steps
Investigators are likely to review delivery records, cab routes, and CCTV footage from the route between Madrid and Granada. They may also interviews with the van crew and any facility staff involved in unpacking. The case continues to unfold, with authorities seeking to recover the painting and determine whether security lapses or deliberate action occurred. The CajaGranada foundation reiterates its cooperation and faith that the matter will be resolved.
Public and Expert Reactions
Art-security experts stress the importance of continuous improvement in courier verification, immediate post-delivery auditing, and stricter containment of loaned works. The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of small-format works in transit, even when supported by modern surveillance and packaging standards. The art world watches closely as investigators pursue leads to bring Naturaleza muerta con guitarra back to its rightful owner.
