The Catalan government has formally requested over €790,000 from the government of Aragon, linked to the acquisition and upkeep of artworks from the Sijena monastery that were moved from the Lleida Museum in 2017. This extrajudicial claim, announced by Aragon's Vice-President Mar Vaquero, proposes direct negotiations within 10 days, a suggestion Vaquero has rejected.
The National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) has also made a separate claim, focusing on works it acquired in June 1994.
According to the claim, Catalonia's Culture Department acquired 56 artworks from the Santa María de Sijena Monastery through purchase contracts in 1983 and 1992. Of these, 44 were held at the Lleida Museum and 12 at the MNAC. In 1999, the works were assigned and transferred to the Lleida Museum Consortium, which then looked after them, including their conservation and protection, for many years.
Nullified Contracts and Restitution
These purchase contracts were declared null by a 2015 court ruling. The rulings stated that ownership of the items belonged to the Order of Saint John of the Sijena Monastery and required the Catalan government to return possession of the artworks to Sijena.
The nullification of the contracts means a reciprocal restitution of payments and a settlement of the possession status. The updated value of the 1983 purchase contract is €218,227.5, and the 1992 contract is €202,090.31. This totals €420,317.82, which Catalonia says should be returned to its Culture Department.
Additionally, the cost for the Lleida Museum to conserve and preserve these artworks from 1999 to July 2016, adjusted for inflation, is €370,801.65. This amount is also being claimed.
Negotiation and Legal Action
The Catalan government's request aims to find an extrajudicial solution through direct negotiation within 10 calendar days. If this proposal is not accepted, Catalonia demands the payment of €420,317.82 to the Culture Department and €370,801.65 to the Lleida Museum Consortium within 30 calendar days. Failure to meet this second deadline will lead to the Generalitat and the Lleida Museum Consortium taking appropriate legal action.
MNAC's Separate Claim
The MNAC has sent a burofax to the Order of Saint John of Santa María de Sijena, the Sijena monastery, the Order of Malta, the Diocese of Barbastro-Monzón, and nun Virginia Calatayud Aleixandre. This communication requests good-faith negotiations regarding the financial consequences of the nullified purchase contracts, specifically the acquisition made by the MNAC in June 1994. The MNAC believes it is entitled to the return of the price paid for these goods, as well as reimbursement for their maintenance and conservation costs while in the museum's possession. Unlike the Catalan government, the MNAC has not specified a monetary figure but seeks to determine the amount it is owed.
Aragon's Response
Aragon's Vice-President, Mar Vaquero, strongly criticised the Catalan government's claim, calling it a 'tantrum' in response to a 'continuous loss of reason'. She also denounced what she described as 'unjustified attacks' against Aragon. Vaquero expressed regret over what she sees as the Catalan government's 'delirious drift', stating it is a shame that Salvador Illa, the Catalan president, has to engage in such matters.
