A remarkable discovery was made when a junk dealer in Capri stumbled upon what turned out to be an original Pablo Picasso painting. Luigi Lo Rosso found the artwork in 1962 while searching through a cellar in Capri. Unaware of its significance, he took it to his home in Pompeii and hung it in his living room, despite his wife’s dislike of the piece.
The painting remained unnoticed for decades until Luigi’s son, Andrea Lo Rosso, began researching art history. He discovered a distinctive signature in the top left corner, which eventually led the family to seek expert advice. A well-known art detective, Maurizio Seracini, and graphologist Cinzia Altieri, a member of the Arcadia Foundation’s scientific committee, helped confirm the painting as an original Picasso. The artwork is now valued at around 5 million pounds (approximately Rs 55.7 crore).
“I studied the signature for months, comparing it with some of Picasso’s original works. There is no doubt that it is his. No evidence suggested it was a fake,” said Cinzia Altieri.
The painting is believed to be a portrait of Dora Maar, Picasso’s muse and lover. Andrea Lo Rosso, who is now 60, continued his father’s journey to uncover the artist behind the work. “My father was from Capri and would collect junk to sell. He had no idea who Picasso was. I always thought it resembled Picasso’s style, but my father never understood,” said Andrea. His mother even urged the family to discard it, calling it “repulsive.”
Despite the Picasso Foundation in Málaga dismissing their claims initially, experts have now confirmed the painting’s authenticity. The creation period of the piece aligns with Picasso’s frequent visits to Capri and his artistic style from 1930 to 1936. Given that Picasso created over 14,000 works in his lifetime, it’s possible for undiscovered pieces to surface.
Currently, the painting is stored securely in a Milan vault, awaiting official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.
