This Thursday, an oil on panel measuring 56x40 centimeters, dated between 1665 and 1669, will be auctioned in Madrid. The piece, identified by experts as the cross from the tabernacle of the high altar of the Capuchin convent in Seville, has been attributed to the renowned Spanish Baroque painter by the auction house Ansorena.
The uniqueness of this work lies in its export permit, issued by the Ministry of Culture on February 17, 2026. Ministry sources have confirmed that it is an imported piece, which subjects it to special regulations allowing it to leave the country without the usual restrictions affecting national heritage. This means the State does not have a preferential right to purchase it nor can it unilaterally declare it a Cultural Asset of Interest, unless the owner expressly requests it.
“"We know it comes from the same collection thanks to a detailed study carried out by Pablo Hereza, who identified this painting with Murillo's cross that was in the tabernacle of the high altar."
The auction catalog details that Murillo created one of his most significant collections for the Capuchin convent in Seville between 1665 and 1669, including works such as the Jubilee of the Porciúncula and the Virgin of the Napkin. The piece now being auctioned was part of this collection and depicts a deceased Christ on the cross with a serene expression, adapted to its devotional function.
The Ministry of Culture has acknowledged that the piece was imported into Spain and, therefore, falls under the special regime of Article 32 of the Spanish Historical Heritage Law 16/1985. This regulation permits its export with the relevant permit and prevents the administration from exercising a preferential acquisition right or declaring it a Cultural Asset of Interest without the owner's express request.
