Sijena Mural Paintings: Urgency in the Return Schedule
Pedro Olloqui, General Director of Culture of the Government of Aragón, emphasized the necessity of adhering to the timeline for the return of the Sijena mural paintings due to conservation reasons. The statement was made alongside Natalia Martínez de Pisón, conservator-restorer and technical coordinator of the Aragonese work group for the restitution of the paintings.
The Aragonese technical team conducted a thorough inspection in the halls of the MNAC in July 2025, documenting the works with over 7,000 images. Laser scanning and photogrammetry were employed to generate detailed digital models.
The chemical analysis of the samples assured that as long as standardized conditions were respected, there would be no risk to the works. However, moisture and debris were found on the back of the paintings, leading Olloqui to warn about new leaks.
Natalia Martínez de Pisón indicated that the current conditions at the MNAC are not adequate, refuting claims about the extreme fragility of the paintings.
The mural set, divided into 72 sub-fragments, will facilitate its transfer and security, and the schedule presented to the court anticipates a period of seven months for the return.
Documents were submitted to the First Instance Court of Huesca along with a request for information to the MNAC, with Olloqui expressing regret over the halt in work by the Catalan museum.
