The following quote is perhaps telling, in it Azaña, (president of the Republic) tells Negrín (prime minister, overseeing the evacuation due to the civil war) t

The following quote is perhaps telling, in it Azaña, (president of the Republic) tells Negrín (prime minister, overseeing the evacuation due to the civil war) that: > The Prado Museum is more important for Spain than the Monarchy and the Republic altogether... consider the embarrassment if the paintings were missing or seriously damaged... you would need to shoot yourself.