A massive canvas emblazoned with a Picasso painting might suffer serious damage if plans to move it this weekend go ahead as scheduled. The 19 foot by 20 foot painting by Pablo Picasso, created for the Ballets Russes in 1919, was bought for the Four Seasons Restaurant on Park Avenue in 1959 and has hung there ever since.
The New York Landmarks Conservancy, which has owned and cared for the painting since 2005 as a public asset, said again on Thursday that it’s fragile and should not be moved. According to the historic preservation group, the painting could suffer serious damage if it is moved, especially if too quickly. Conservators from Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company examined on the group’s behalf, and agree.
In a letter from Larry Shar, president of Lowy, the painting is described as brittle. Lowy said it should only be moved over a period of 7-8 days for minimum damage. It is scheduled to be moved on Sunday over one day.
According to the Conservancy, the company hired to move the canvas also said there are huge risks involved, and that it could “crack like a potato chip” if moved.
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