Picasso painting damaged ahead of Christie's auction

May 14 (UPI) -- Christie's said it withdrew a self-portrait by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso from auction because it sustained damage during preparation for the event.

The auction house didn't specify the extent or cause of the damage to Le Marin (The Sailor).

"Two outside conservators have now been consulted and have made recommendations for the successful restoration of the painting," Christie's said Sunday. "Christie's has a very high standard of care for the objects entrusted to us and we have taken immediate measures to remedy the matter in partnership with our client."

The 1943 Cubist painting, estimated to be worth $70 million, was expected to go up for auction Tuesday at Christie's New York City location.

Bloomberg reported Steve Wynn, a former casino owner and businessman, owned the painting, and had consigned it and two others to Christie's for auction. Christie's said it also pulled another of his paintings from the auction: Picasso's Femme au chat assise dans un fauteuil from 1964.

This is the second time one of Wynn's Picasso paintings has been damaged. In 2006, he pushed his elbow through Le Reve (The Dream) one day after he agreed to sell it for $139 million.

Wynn stepped down as CEO of Wynn Resorts in February after allegations of sexual misconduct.