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Hurting Culture Travel: "Guernica" Needs a Facelift

July 21, 2008 at 9:17 AM | 0 Comments

To stand before Picasso's magnificent "Guernica" canvas is to be bowled over by the artist's depiction of the horrors of war. But curators at the Reina Sofia Museum, where the painting has made his home since 1992, say the major work needs some major work done--and might even be too fragile for restoration.

A particular problem according to experts is that the painting is too fragile to move, even to its namesake city, while it used to join exhibitions as far away as Chicago and Brazil. It was defaced in 1974 by an antiwar protester who added the words "Kill Lies All" to the painting, though that has since been removed.

Despite damage sustained, the painting is protected not by alarmed glass but just by a rail and guards. You're not supposed to take pictures, though--hence this stealth shot.

Related Stories:
· "Guernica" Needs Special Care, Say Curators [AP]
· Madrid Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: oppenodom]