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The PNV received a donation yesterday of the last portrait painted of Lehendakari Jose Antonio Agirre.  The portrait dates back to 1959 and was done in Caracas by Peli Irazabal, a Basque doctor who resided in Venezuela and who had a great fondness for painting.  It was his son, Jon Irazabal, who presented the painting to Andoni Ortuzar, President of the Euzkadi Buru Batzar.  The note was published in yesterday’s Deia. 

Bilbao, Bizkaia.   The event was simple and emotional and was also attended by Jon Irazabal’s wife, Ana Goikolea, and Iñaki Anasagasti, whose mediation made this donation possible.  This act fulfilled the last wish of Bedite Zabala, Peli Irazal’s widow, who passed away in August at the age of 92.

Irazabal explained the relationship between the artist and Agirre to Ortuzar.  “My mother, Bedite Zabala Otaola, was Maria Zabala Aketxe’s first cousin who was Jose Antonio Agirre’s wife. That is why Agirre and Zabala visited them in Venezuela in 1959.  That is when my father painted this portrait, the last of done during the Lehendakari’s life.”

The presentation of the portrait came at an especially significant moment, since next Friday, October 7, marks the 80th anniversary of the constitution of the first Basque Government, presided by Jose Antonio Agirre.  Ortuzar hung the portrait in his office as president of the EBB of the PNV.

 (published in Deia)