Picasso treasure trove found on Côte

Pierre Le Guennec, 71, who worked for the Spanish maestro between 1970 and 1973 claims that the works were given to him as gifts by Picasso’s wife and the artist himself.

It was reported in the French newspaper Liberation, police seized 271 works, thought to be worth an estimated 60 million euros after Picasso’s son Claude filed a complaint with the Central Office for the Fight Against Traffic in Cultural Goods (OCBC).

Le Guennec contacted Claude Picasso in September to authenticate the works, which feature a watercolour from his Blue Period and nine cubist works.

The ownership of the works is likely to become a long running legal battle, Le Guennec, who had installed burglar alarms at Picasso’s properties all over France, was taken into custody following the police raid.

Claude Picasso dismisses Le Guennec’s claim that the works were given as gifts. "That doesn't stand up," he told the press.

TD