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Italian Junk Dealer Discovers ‘Horrible’ Painting That His Mother hated Is Actually a $6M Picasso
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a remarkable turn of events, a man recently discovered that an old painting hidden in his family home for decades is a genuine Pablo Picasso masterpiece, valued at approximately $6.6 million (£5 million). The artwork, which had long been stored away because of his mother’s disdain for it, was only recently authenticated. As The New York Post reported, the painting, signed by Picasso, had been tucked away in a modest home in Pompeii, Italy, after being dismissed as insignificant for years.
The story dates back to 1962 when Luigi Lo Rosso, a junk dealer from Capri, was cleaning out a cellar and stumbled upon the painting. Unfamiliar with Picasso’s global fame, Luigi took the piece home and displayed it casually in his living room. According to the report in The New York Post, Luigi’s wife intensely disliked the artwork, referring to it as “horrible,” and insisted on keeping it hidden. Their son Andrea, now 60, recalled how his father did not understand the significance of the signature on the painting. “He found the painting before I was even born and had no idea who Picasso was,” Andrea said. “He wasn’t a very cultured person. My mother didn’t want to keep it; she kept saying it was horrible.”
Despite his parents’ lack of interest, Andrea became increasingly curious about the painting as he grew older. According to The New York Post report, Andrea began to suspect that the signature on the painting might indeed be Picasso’s. “While reading about Picasso’s works in the encyclopedia, I would look up at the painting and compare it to his signature. I kept telling my father it was similar, but he didn’t see it,” he explained. Even though his father dismissed his observations, Andrea couldn’t shake the feeling that the artwork might hold more value than his family had ever realized.
Years of speculation and curiosity eventually led Andrea to seek expert opinions. He consulted several local specialists, including famed art detective Maurizio Seracini. After a lengthy investigation, The New York Post noted that graphologist Cinzia Altieri from the Arcadia Foundation confirmed that the signature on the painting was undoubtedly Picasso’s. “There is no doubt the signature is his,” Altieri assured the family, putting to rest decades of uncertainty.
The painting is believed to have been created between 1930 and 1936, a period when Picasso was heavily involved with Dora Maar, the French photographer and painter who was his muse and lover until their breakup in 1945. The New York Post reported that this particular piece likely depicts Dora Maar, adding even more historical and artistic significance to the discovery. Picasso, who passed away in 1973, is one of the most prolific artists of the 20th century, having produced over 14,000 works during his lifetime.
Though Luigi Lo Rosso passed away before the painting’s authenticity could be verified, Andrea is determined to continue the process. He has turned to the Picasso Foundation in Málaga, Spain, for a final verdict on the painting’s authenticity. The New York Post highlighted Andrea’s cautious approach, as the artwork is now stored securely in a vault in Milan, awaiting further analysis. “I am curious to know what they say,” Andrea remarked. “We were just a normal family, and the aim has always been to establish the truth. We’re not interested in making money out of it.”
This unexpected discovery, rooted in a chance find by a humble junk dealer, could now lead to the recognition of a long-hidden masterpiece. The New York Post report emphasized how the Lo Rosso family’s journey from indifference to curiosity, and finally to confirmation, reveals not only the value of the artwork but also the importance of persistence and investigation in the world of fine art. The final determination by the Picasso Foundation will mark the conclusion of a fascinating story that has captivated both art experts and the public alike.
