Guggenheim To Welcome Recovered Goya Painting

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum announced today that the recently recovered Francisco de Goya Lucientes painting Children with a Cart (1778) will join the exhibition Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth, and History at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum on February 16, 2007.

The painting was stolen in November 2006 while en route to New York City for the opening of the Spanish Painting exhibition. After an extensive investigation, the painting was recovered by the FBI and returned to the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA), where it was reinstalled on January 11, 2007.

"Lending works of art to significant exhibitions is a vital component of our educational purpose," TMA Director Don Bacigalupi said. "Now that our local community has had the opportunity to visit the recovered painting at TMA, we are proud to share our Goya with New York audiences."

Lisa Dennison, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, said, "The Guggenheim is delighted to welcome Goya's Children with a Cart and that it will now join the already 21 paintings by that great artist currently on view in the exhibition. We are very grateful to Dr. Bacigalupi, the Toledo Museum of Art, and the Toledo community for allowing us to share this painting with the Guggenheim's visitors."

Spanish Painting from El Greco to Picasso: Time, Truth, and History remains on view at the Guggenheim through March 28, 2007. After the exhibition closes, Children with a Cart will return to the Toledo Museum of Art.

An FBI investigation into the painting's theft is ongoing. The museums have been asked to refer all media questions regarding the investigation to Stephen Siegel, Media Representative, Newark Division of the FBI, 973-792-3020. -- www.guggenheim.org