A remarkable discovery by a junk dealer in a Capri cellar has unveiled an original Picasso portrait. According to a report by The Guardian, Luigi Lo Rosso stumbled upon the painting in 1962 and, despite his wife’s objections, proudly hung it in their Pompeii home for decades.
The painting remained a mystery until Lo Rosso’s son, Andrea, began exploring art history and recognized the distinctive signature in the top left corner. Seeking validation, the family consulted a team of experts, including renowned art detective Maurizio Seracini. Cinzia Altieri, a graphologist and member of the Arcadia Foundation’s scientific committee, confirmed that the painting’s distinctive style aligns with Picasso’s work. The artwork is now valued at a staggering £5 million (approximately Rs 55,71,18,527).
After months of examining the signature, Altieri stated, “There is no doubt that the signature is his. There was no evidence suggesting that it was false.” The portrait is believed to depict Dora Maar, a French photographer and Picasso’s muse.
Andrea shared that his father, an unassuming junk collector from Capri, had no idea who Picasso was when he found the painting. “He wasn’t a very cultured person. I kept telling my father it was similar, but he didn’t understand,” Andrea recounted.
Initially, the family considered disposing of the painting due to the strong dislike expressed by Andrea’s mother, who found it repulsive. Despite facing skepticism from the Picasso Foundation in Málaga, which dismissed Andrea’s claims, the painting’s authenticity has now been verified by experts.
Interestingly, Picasso frequently visited Capri, and the estimated creation period of the artwork, between 1930 and 1936, aligns with his stylistic evolution. Given that Picasso created over 14,000 works, the revelation of previously unknown pieces remains a possibility.
The painting is currently housed in a vault in Milan, awaiting official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.
