A family in Italy recently made an astonishing discovery: a painting they had displayed in their living room for decades is now believed to be an original work by Pablo Picasso.
Found in the Basement
Luigi Lo Rosso, a second-hand dealer, found the artwork in 1962 while cleaning out the basement of a house in Capri. He took it home and, unaware of its significance, framed it cheaply and hung it on his wall. His wife reportedly described the painting as "ugly."
It wasn’t until years later, when Luigi’s son, Andrea, grew curious after reading an art history book, that they began to suspect the painting’s true value, according to Ziare.
The family enlisted a team of experts, including art detective Maurizio Seracini and graphologist Cinzia Altieri, to examine the painting. After extensive analysis, Altieri confirmed that the signature on the portrait is indeed Picasso’s.
Painted Between 1930 and 1936
The portrait is thought to depict Dora Maar, a French photographer and painter who was both Picasso's muse and partner.
Experts believe it was painted between 1930 and 1936, aligning with Picasso’s frequent visits to the island of Capri. The painting is now valued at 6 million euros (6.4 million USD).
The artwork bears a striking resemblance to Picasso’s "Buste de femme (Dora Maar)," which was painted in 1938. Interestingly, that piece was stolen from a Saudi yacht in 1999 and recovered two decades later.
Luca Marcante, president of the Arcadia Foundation, suggests that there might be two versions of the same painting, with both potentially being original works by Picasso.
Andrea Lo Rosso has no intention of profiting from the painting. Instead, he and his family are focused on establishing the truth behind its origins.
