For 40 years the "Dama de Elche" was exhibited at the Louvre. After the start of World War II in 1939, as a precaution, the sculpture was transferred for safe-keeping to the castle of Montauban near Toulouse. The Vichy government negotiated the statue's return to Spain with Franco's government. In 1941 it was returned through an exchange of works (which also included the "Immaculate Conception of the Venerable Ones" (or "Immaculate Conception of Soult") by Murillo, the twin sphinxes of El Salobral and several pieces of the Treasure of Guarrazar, and the Iberian sculptures of Osuna. In return Spain transferred to France a portrait of Mariana of Austria by Velázquez (the Prado kept another existing version of the portrait, which was considered of superior quality) and a "Portrait of Antonio de Covarrubias" by El Greco. Since 1941, the "Lady of Elche" has been officially owned by the Museo del Prado (catalog number E433).