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The MNAC presents an appeal against the removal and relocation of the Sixena murals
New chapter in the dispute over the Sixena murals : the MNAC presents a new letter of opposition to the execution of the sentence that obliges the paintings to be returned to Aragon. According to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, 'this letter is fully within the framework of the agreements of the Board of Trustees, which define the context of the Museum's action'. The document maintains the technical and legal arguments defended throughout the entire process, with special emphasis on the preservation of the works and the risks of irreparable damage, supported by new reports from national and international experts, among which the ICCROM stands out.
To consolidate its position, the museum presents new reports from both national and international experts, among which the report from ICCROM (International Centre for Studies on the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage) stands out, recognized as the most outstanding authority in its specialty.
The Museum also presents an alternative timetable, structured in phases and with a high degree of detail, which includes both the necessary administrative approvals and the mandatory international procedures and standards of action. The report questions the timetable proposed by the Government of Aragon, casting doubt on both the procedures and the requirements established for making decisions. It also highlights that the company acting on behalf of the Government of Aragon has the experience and solvency required to undertake an operation of this magnitude. The MNAC proposes a timetable of fifteen months to return the murals and not seven as requested by the judge.
The Museum provides new reports that support, ratify and expand the technical position regarding the great risks and extreme complexity of the operation. The MNAC has requested the opinion of the most prestigious international experts in the field and the reports confirm its diagnosis on the extreme fragility of the mural paintings in the chapter house. Among these reports, it is worth highlighting that of Dr. Simona Sajeva, which complements her 2016 study, in which she analyzes the fragility of the paintings and points out the critical points of the schedule proposed by the Government of Aragon: the absence of an integrated assessment of the risks as well as the potential losses related to the operation, concluding that both the deadline and the technical proposal ignore the serious risks of irreparably damaging the paintings, and are therefore unfeasible.
