THE PORTUGUESE state has at least one year to decide whether to buy a painting of immense historical and cultural value that unexpectedly surfaced in Paris.
The work, Súplica de Dona Inês de Castro, by Porto painter Francisco Vieira (1765-1805), was sold at auction on Wednesday by the French auction house Pierre Berge e Associes for 210,000 euros, way over the expected price.
Originally valued at between 120,000 and 150,000 euros with a reserve price of 80,000 euros, the piece’s value rose rapidly at auction in part because of its subject matter, the tragic love story of King Dom Pedro of Portugal and his common law wife Dona Inês de Castro.
The painting also made a record price because of its provenance – it was taken to Brazil by the fleeing Portuguese Royal family during the Napoleonic Wars when the court moved to São Salvador and Rio de Janeiro for safety.
Now, in an agreement between the Ministry of Culture and a Portuguese businessman who now owns the work and prefers to remain anonymous, the painting will be on display at Lisbon’s Museum of Ancient Art (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga-MNAA) for one year.
The intended purchase for the same amount was announced at a press conference at the MNAA by Culture Minister, José António Pinto Ribeiro and the Director of the Museum, Paulo Henriques.
The owner is also said to be in negotiations with the Caixa Geral de Depósitos Foundation, which is also interested in purchasing the work of art.
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