The mayor of Cordoba, José Maria Bellido, said Thursday at the plenary session of the City Council of Córdoba that he was willing that the six works by Julio Romero de Torres proposed by the collector Blas García to be exhibited in the city – where they have never been seen before – could be exhibited in Córdoba after the end of the exhibition. 150th anniversary of the painter on temporary loan to the museum so that they can be exhibited there.
Bellido’s remarks came in response to questions from the spokesperson for the socialist group, Antonio Hurtadoto explain why the offer had been declined and regretting that “this opportunity had been wasted” “precious, certain and unknown works”. The collector himself, a young plastic surgeon from Pozoblanco living in Tenerife, regretted the refusal and expressed his surprise. “If they don’t want it, they stay at my house.”
As reported by ABC, the councilman ruled out the move on Monday, calling the offer “we can’t be at the mercy of one individual,” and even said after the news broke that he didn’t know. “what excessive interest there is in a private collection” and described it as a “very low level” debate, alluding to previous criticisms by the PSOE. The mayor insisted that the exhibition of collectors’ works “also influences the valuation” of these.
Bellido tried in plenary to explain why the offer was not accepted as part of the events of the painter’s 150th anniversary. The mayor recalled that last April the events of this anniversary had been presented with exhibitions in collaboration with Telefónica, Thyssen Museum and the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts. A few days later, an email arrives from the owner of the works questioning the approach and asking that his paintings be included, in the words of Bellido, who reiterated that “a celebratory line was chosen and that’s it, even if it may please.” more or less; It would not be serious to change it“.
Despite the first categorical refusal of the mayor of Cordoba regarding the possibility of accepting the specific transfer of the six works, Bellido changed his position and recognized in plenary that “they have the doors open so that when the birthday is over I can see a temporary transfer and exhibit them at the Museum. Of course, he asked all parties to self-criticize on the way they contact the city council by “email or through the media.”
