Editor-DN
A junk dealer’s discovery in a Capri cellar turns out to be an original Picasso painting. According to one The Guardian Reportedly, Luigi Lo Rosso found the painting in 1962, took it to his home in Pompeii, and hung it in his room despite his wife’s distaste for it. For decades, the painting remained a mystery, until Lou Rousseau’s son Andrea began researching art history and noticed the distinctive signature in the upper left corner. The family then sought advice from a team of experts, including renowned art detective Maurizio Ceracini. Cinzia Alteri, a graphologist and member of the scientific committee of the Arcadia Foundation, confirmed the distorted style of the painting as classic Picasso. The art piece is now worth 5 million pounds (Rs. 55,71,18,527).
“After all the other painting tests were completed I was given the task of studying the signature. I worked on it for months, comparing it to some of his original works. There is no doubt that the signature is his. Mr Altieri told the Guardian there was no evidence it was false.
The photo is believed to be of Dora Mar, a French photographer and painter who was Picasso’s mistress and muse.
Lou Ross died, but his son Andrea, now 60, tried to find the artist behind the painting.
“My father was from Capri and he used to collect junk to sell for next to nothing. He found this painting before I was born and had no clue who Picasso was. He was not a very civilized person. I kept telling my father that it was like that, but he didn’t understand. But as I grew up, I was surprised,” Andrea Lo Russo told The Guardian.
Mr. Russo also revealed that his family considered disposing of the painting due to his mother’s strong disapproval. “He found it offensive and repeatedly urged us to get rid of him,” he added.
His quest to validate his father’s discovery faced a significant obstacle when the Picasso Foundation in Malaga repeatedly disproved his claims. Despite this setback, experts, including graphologist Cinzia Alteri, have now confirmed the painting’s authenticity.
In particular, Picasso often visited Capri, where the painting was discovered, and the estimated period of creation between 1930 and 1936 corresponds to his stylistic evolution. Remarkably, Picasso created more than 14,000 works during his lifetime, leaving room for unknown pieces to emerge.
The painting, now stored in a vault in Milan, is awaiting official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.
