Pierre Le Guennec – the Unlucky Electrician

Abstract Paintings

The retired electrician Pierre Le Guennec has been charged with the illegal receipt of some 270 works of the master painter Pablo Picasso. Le Guennec’s story is rather weak considering the size of the collection that was uncovered when he and his wife went to have the works appraised. Le Guennec and his wife both state that the works were given as a gift to the former electrician from Picasso’s second wife.

It would seem that the Guennec’s timing is impeccable as any witnesses to the gift giving are now deceased and they have stated that the gift was giving in 1973. This would mean that the statute of limitations on the crime of theft would have long expired. However, they have been charged with illegal receipt of artwork which holds up against different statutes. Pablo’s son is the one that has brought the charges against the elderly couple.

Art Collection

Considering the size of the collection, the impeccable timing and the age of the accused, all things point to something not quite right. As it is, it is now up to the courts to decide whether or not Guennec’s story holds water. Guennec had worked for Pablo Picasso in the 70’s working as an electrician in 3 of the master’s homes. One of which was a farmhouse where Guennec installed a burglar alarm. Depending on the outcome of the court case, this could be a highly ironic point in the matter.

Many are siding with Picasso’s son and believe this to be an elaborate plan to steal the works and then come forward later after the statute of limitation expired. The couple had planned to have the paintings appraised and then supposedly enter it into their estate to be divided amongst their heirs. It would not be a surprising outcome if Mr. Guennec was found responsible for a theft of these works as Picasso’s works are regarded as one of the most stolen works in history.

Stolen Artworks

There are currently over 600 works that are registered as stolen works of the master. If the case should prove that Guennec was in fact responsible, then these would be considered recovered works of art. This would most likely increase the value of the collection which is already estimated at over 100 million dollars. If the story is attached that they were stolen the artworks that were recovered some forty years later, then that sum could nearly triple.

This case may be difficult to prove by either the prosecution or the defense. The one good thing to come from this is the discovery of nearly 300 works that have never been seen by anyone outside of the accused family. With already over 70,000 this will be quite a difficult case to prove as the only witnesses to the gift giving are now deceased. How the police with determine it as a theft is going to be highly difficult. It is nice to know that there were so many more artworks of Picasso to add to the known works. There are over 70,000 in existence currently and adding nearly 300 more is very exciting despite the terrible circumstances of their discovery.

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