A junk dealer’s discovery in a Capri basement has revealed an original painting by Picasso. according to a Guardian According to reports, Luigi Lo Rosso found the painting in 1962, took it home to Pompeii and hung it in his living room despite his wife’s dislike. For decades, the painting remained a mystery, until Lo Rosso’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 Serasini. Cinzia Altieri, graphologist and member of the scientific committee of the Arcadia Foundation, confirmed the distorted style of the painting as classic Picasso. This artwork is now worth 5 million pounds (Rs 55,71,18,527).
“After all the other examinations of the painting were done, 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. “There is no evidence that this was wrong,” Mr. Altieri said. Guardian.
It is believed that the portrait is of Dora Maar, a French photographer and painter who was Picasso’s lover and inspiration.
Lou Ross died, but his son Andrea, now 60, discovered the artist behind the painting.
“My father was from Capri and collected junk to sell cheap. He had found this painting before I was born and had no idea who Picasso was. He was not a very cultured person. I kept telling my father it was like that, but he didn’t understand. But as I grew up, I kept thinking,” Andrea Lo Rosso told The Guardian.
Mr. Rosso also revealed that his family considered destroying the painting due to his mother’s strong dislike of it. “He found it disgusting and repeatedly urged us to get rid of it,” he said.
His quest to authenticate his father’s discovery faced a significant obstacle when the Picasso Foundation in Málaga repeatedly rejected his claims as false. Despite this setback, experts including graphologist Cinzia Altieri have now confirmed the painting’s authenticity.
In particular, Picasso frequently visited Capri, where the painting was discovered, and the estimated creation period between 1930 and 1936 aligns with his stylistic development. Notably, Picasso created over 14,000 works during his lifetime, leaving room for unknown masterpieces to emerge.
The painting, now stored in a Milan vault, awaits official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.
