From Scribble to Masterpiece: Lost Picasso Discovered in Italian Cellar

What seems like an innocent scribble to one person can be a treasure worth millions to another. A painting discovered in a dusty basement by an Italian scrap dealer in the 60s turns out to be a genuine Picasso. The canvas now lies safely in a vault, ready to change hands for a hefty sum.

Italian scrap dealer Luigi Lo Rosso discovered the masterpiece in 1962, carelessly rolled up in a cellar he was clearing out. Without realizing its importance, Lo Rosso took the canvas home and gave it to his wife, who mockingly called it “the Scribble” for its abstract style. For years, the painting hung modestly on the wall of their home, framed in a simple frame, unaware of the millions it represented.

The painting, an oil portrait of Dora Maar – Picasso’s lover and muse – shows the woman in a blue dress and red lipstick. It wasn’t until decades later, when their son Andrea recognised the work in an art history encyclopaedia, that things started to roll. The family decided to have the painting examined and called in the Arcadia Foundation for authentication.

Graphologist Cinzia Altieri recently confirmed the authenticity of the signature, and the painting is now valued at around 6 million euros. If it is officially recognized as Picasso's work by the Picasso Foundation in Malaga, its value could rise even further. Another of Picasso's works, Dora Maar, sold at Sotheby's in 2006 for over 95 million dollars. 

We are waiting for the final valuation, but if the experts are right, Lo Rosso's find will turn out to be more than just a "scribble"... 

Painting found by junk dealer in cellar is original Picasso, experts claim https://t.co/G8mPDU7x65

- The Guardian (@guardian) October 1, 2024