Key Takeaways
- A painting found in the basement of a home in Capri, Italy, is believed to be an authentic work by Pablo Picasso.
- The painting, initially dismissed as "horrible" by the junk dealer who discovered it, is now valued at approximately €6 million ($6.6 million).
- The painting's authenticity has been confirmed by art experts, with the signature matching Picasso's known works.
- The painting has been locked in a vault in Milan since 2019 while undergoing further authentication.
- If certified by the Picasso Foundation, the painting's value is expected to increase significantly.
Experts Confirm Authenticity of Long-Lost Painting, Found After Decades in Seclusion
Luigi Lo Rosso, a junk dealer, found the painting in 1962. He thought it was bad and put it in a cheap frame. Years later, his son, Andrea, thought it might be a Picasso. After lots of research, experts agree it's a real Picasso.
The artwork is estimated to be worth around €6 million ($6.6 million). This is based on assessments by art experts Altieri and Marcante.
The family sought help from Italy's Arcadia Foundation. They handle valuations, restorations, and attributions of famous works of art. The painting was registered with Dr. Cinzia Altieri, a graphologist for a patrimony court in Milan.
It has been secured in a vault since 2019. Altieri certified the portrait as a Picasso last month. "There is no doubt that the signature is his," Altieri said in a statement to the Italian press. "There was no evidence to demonstrate its apocryphal nature."
The Portrait's Striking Resemblance to Picasso's Muse, Dora Maar
The painting shows a woman in a blue dress with red lipstick. It is believed to be an image of Dora Maar, Picasso's lover. The artwork was hung in the Lo Russo family home for about 50 years and later in a restaurant they owned.
The Picasso Foundation's Role in Final Authentication
Once certified by the Picasso Foundation in Paris, the painting's value is expected to increase significantly.
"If the Picasso Foundation in Paris certifies the painting, its value could potentially more than double according to experts, increasing its market worth significantly."
The Lo Rosso family plans to auction the painting in honor of their late father. He wanted it to be certified and sold. This discovery of a lost Picasso masterpiece hidden in a basement shows the enduring power of art. It also highlights the persistence of those who seek to uncover its hidden treasures.
Source Links
- https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/picasso-painting-discovered-italian-basement-1235891922/
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/02/style/picasso-painting-junk-dealer-italy-scli-intl/index.html
- https://www.aol.com/junk-dealer-found-painting-basement-143653333.html
- https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/horrible-painting-man-found-cellar-33800397
- https://www.ksl.com/article/51146789/a-junk-dealer-found-a-painting-in-a-basement-experts-say-its-an-original-picasso
- https://medium.com/@nyelizabeth/according-to-experts-a-painting-by-picasso-found-in-a-cellar-by-a-thrift-store-dealer-is-an-05df4ce20035
- https://news.faharas.net/100989/a-junk-dealer-found-a/
Jean Dubreil