An Angolan millionaire wants to pay €44 million for the Portuguese State’s valuable collection of 85 Miró paintings, which are planned to go under the hammer in London in June.
But entrepreneur Rui Costa Reis has one condition: the works of the Catalan artist must be displayed in Porto for at least 50 years.
The bid was reported this morning in the Portuguese press and the government is said to be analysing the offer.
It is even alleged that Porto council has cancelled the public auction of a palace that has been earmarked to hold the exhibition, although the alderman in charge of culture refused to provide more details as “negotiations are currently in place”.
However, and amid contestation from artists and art lovers who want the paintings to become part of Portugal’s cultural heritage, the Prime Minister’s office is cited as saying that the paintings “will be included in Christie’s auction in London in June”. Despite this, it is believed PM Passos Coelho is studying ways in which the surrealist works could stay in the country.
Background
BPN bank had originally purchased the 85 Miró paintings for a total of €82.5 million – a sum Christie’s has said was vastly over-rated. But the paintings, which were inherited by the Portuguese State when the disgraced bank went belly-up, are expected to make half of that sum if sold at the auction, meaning the value the government would receive would most likely be very similar to the bid of Rui Costa Reis, who owns a cinema studio in Hollywood and flour brand Kianda.
Angolan millionaire offers €44 million for Miró paintings
