The canvas, measuring 104 by 139 centimeters, was unveiled by the mayor, Juan Franco, along with the delegate councilor for Culture, Raquel Ñeco, the councilor for Festivals and Tourism, Mercedes Atanet, and the museum director, Mercedes Corbacho. The artwork now presides over the entrance of the municipal building, situated above the main fireplace.
The presentation coincides with the Coronation Friday, a prelude to the municipality's Velada y Fiestas (Festivals). The mayor expressed institutional satisfaction with the addition of this piece, highlighting its representative and aesthetic value for the cultural appeal of La Línea.
The process to incorporate the painting into the municipal heritage, which began approximately a year ago, was complex because the piece was scheduled for public auction. The museum's directorate undertook the initial acquisition personally to ensure the artwork remained in the city, subsequently completing the administrative procedures for the transfer of ownership to the council.
The councilor for Culture, Raquel Ñeco, praised the institutional procedure and the involvement of the museum's technical team. "We were fortunate to have a magnificent director who, despite the risks involved, did not hesitate for a second to acquire it personally and then carry out all the necessary administrative procedures to transfer ownership to the City Council. Without her collaboration, it would have been impossible to present the painting today," she stated.
The councilor for Festivals and Tourism, Mercedes Atanet, described the acquisition as historic and emphasized the museum's importance in the external promotion of La Línea, noting that the new canvas enhances the cultural and tourist offerings presented to visitors.
The museum director, Mercedes Corbacho, explained that the purchase's viability was based on rigorous economic and technical-artistic quality criteria, having identified the opportunity in the Madrid art market through the center's network of contacts. Corbacho analyzed the work's chromatic and compositional richness, drawing attention to elements like the rush chair and the still life with glasses and seafood, which strongly connect with Andalusian identity and the proximity of local festivals. She thanked the governing team for their support in allocating public investment to a work of excellent museum quality at a very competitive cost, as well as the tribute paid to the painter this year by municipal delegations.
