Eloise Horsfield
AN eye-wateringly expensive portrait of an ex-minister will now be painted for free, the artist has promised.
Antonio Lopez was commissioned in 2010 to paint an official portrait of former public works minister Francisco Alvarez-Cascos.
But since Lopez set his fee at a rather extortionate €190,000 – almost double the most that has ever been paid for such a portrait – the government has, understandably, been trying to wriggle out of the contract.
Now Lopez, a long-standing friend of Alvarez-Cascos, has said he will waive his fee if it comes to it.
“I’ll paint it anyway, and if I’m not paid he can have it as a present,” he said.
No portrait of this guy is required, a police mug-shot would suffice.
Perhps they can they ask the great fresco painter, Cecilia Gimenez to do his portrait?
Francisco Alvarez-Cascos should foot the bill. The whole thing has a nasty whiff to it.
I agree with Ivan… and Stefanjo makes a point too. These things are nothing more than personal EGO SATISFACTION..”to be remembered” I suggest since it’s for the Minister’s PERSONAL benefit – they pay for it themselves if there is any cost. Alternatively as a professional photographer, I’d do a photo sitting and give a natural likeness on an 18″ x 24″ color print for 2500 euros.