"If it were Catalan, they'd be better cared for:" Aragon slams MNAC over Sixena paintings

The government of the autonomous community of Aragon has accused the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) of failing to properly care for the Sixena mural paintings.

"The conservation of the paintings has not met the necessary or desired standards. If it were Catalan heritage, they would have cared more, but it is Aragonese," said Pedro Olloqui, Aragon's director general for culture.

Officials further accused the MNAC of "neglect" and "lack of diligence," claiming there are clear signs of humidity damage on some fragments and accumulated dirt inside the structures.

"The leaks are due to unstable conditions in the MNAC building. It is very serious and must be reported," Olloqui added.

These accusations are based on two reports prepared by Aragonese conservators and restorers, which will now be submitted to the Huesca court that ordered the return of the murals to Aragon.

Despite the alleged deficiencies, Aragonese technicians maintain that the works can be transported "without extraordinary risks."

"There is no widespread pathology that prevents their transfer to Aragon," Olloqui said.

To ensure maximum safety, the technicians propose dismantling the murals into 72 fragments before moving them.

MNAC denies accusations

The MNAC has strongly denied the accusations, insisting that the murals have been preserved according to "high museum standards."

The Catalan institution also reminded that the murals’ survival is thanks to the MNAC’s conservation efforts and noted that Aragon had never previously questioned their condition.

The museum described the accusations as "strange" and "legally improper," and reaffirmed its "firm and unequivocal" commitment to comply with the 2016 court ruling ordering the murals' return to the Sixena monastery in Aragon.

However, MNAC warned that transporting the paintings could cause significant damage to the works.

In light of the disagreement between Catalan and Aragonese experts, the MNAC asked the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute (IPCE) to assess the paintings, but the judge denied the request.