Bloomberg reports that no British buyer has been found for 1901’s Child with a Dove by Picasso:
U.K. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey placed a temporary export bar in August 2012 to give British institutions the opportunity to buy the painting at the recommended price of 50 million pounds.
As no U.K.-based buyer was found, the Picasso can now be sold to Christie’s unidentified purchaser.
“We can confirm that Christie’s was invited to negotiate the private sale of this picture but we are unable to discuss the matter further,” the London-based auction house said in an e-mail. The company declined to confirm the final purchase price yesterday.
“Child with a Dove” has been bought by the emirate of Qatar, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro said on April 10.
Presumably, the £50m price was set by the Qatari offer.
Picasso $77 Million Portrait to Leave U.K., Rescue Fails (Bloomberg)