Judicial dispute over Joaquín Sorolla's «End of Workday»

Abstract

The Ministry of Culture has denied the export permit for the work Fin de jornada by Joaquín Sorolla against the wishes of the Lorente-Sorolla family, its owners, who, while agreeing with the Ministry about its magnificent workmanship and importance, do not consider it indispensable in Spanish collections. The parties, confronted in court, provide top-level experts to defend their positions, but do the expert opinions provided by the Administration have the same value as those provided by individuals? In the development of the judicial process, an answer is given to this question that is offered here in a clear and simple, although rigorous, way, with the aim that a layman in Law is able to understand the keys to this interesting conflict finally resolved by the Supreme Court.