An Italian family is on a quest to authenticate a painting that was discovered in a dump on the island of Capri in the 1960s, believing it to be a work by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso. The journey to verify the painting’s origins has spanned over 60 years, with the family gathering scientific evidence in the hopes of convincing Picasso’s estate administration in Paris to confirm its authenticity.
The canvas depicting a female figure was found among discarded trash by a junk dealer in the early 1960s. Initially deemed unattractive by the junk dealer’s family, the painting remained unnoticed until his son, Andrea Lo Russo, decided to investigate its potential significance. After studying a Picasso painting in a school textbook and comparing it to the mysterious artwork, Lo Russo became intrigued. Years later, he took the painting to the Picasso Museum in Paris for examination, but the initial response was inconclusive.
Despite facing challenges such as encountering fraudsters and being suspected of dealing in forged art, Lo Russo persisted in his pursuit of validation for the painting. Recent tests conducted by the Swiss-based Arcadia Foundation have provided promising results, including matching the paints used in the painting to Picasso’s known color palette from the same time period. Additionally, a handwriting expert authenticated the signature on the painting as that of Picasso.
The definitive authentication of the painting lies in the hands of the Picasso Administration in Paris, which has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the artwork. If fully authenticated, the painting could be valued at 10-12 million euros, significantly higher than its current estimated worth of 6 million euros. Despite hanging in the Lo Russo family home for years, the painting is now securely stored in a vault in Milan.
Experts have noted similarities between the painting in question and a 1949 Picasso piece called “Tete du femme,” suggesting a possible connection to the renowned artist. However, some doubts have been raised regarding the likelihood of Picasso creating two nearly identical paintings. The mystery surrounding the painting’s provenance adds to the intrigue, as no concrete evidence of the alleged Picasso artwork “Tete du femme” has been found.
As the Italian family awaits a definitive verdict on the painting’s authenticity, they are considering their options, including the possibility of selling the potentially invaluable artwork. The journey of this painting, from a landfill in the 1960s to the spotlight of international attention today, serves as a fascinating tale of art, mystery, and perseverance.