What If That Old Painting in Your Living Room Was Worth Millions? For One Family, It Was!
What if that dusty old painting in your living room was a lost Picasso worth millions? One family found out the hard way! š #News #Lifestyle #Art #HumanInterest
ST. PAUL, MN – What would you do if that painting you bought at Goodwill for a buck turned out to be a priceless masterpiece? For one family, that wasnāt far from reality. Luigi Lo Rosso, a junk dealer from Pompeii, unknowingly lived with a Pablo Picasso painting in his living room for 50 years.
A Treasure Hiding in Plain Sight
In 1962, a 24-year-old Lo Rosso was clearing out the cellar of a villa in Capri when he stumbled upon a rolled-up canvas. The painting depicted a womanās disheveled face, complete with asymmetrical shapes that might make you tilt your head in curiosity. In the top left corner, a signature stood outāPicasso. But for Lo Rosso, the name meant nothing at the time. Without giving it much thought, he brought the canvas home and hung it in his living room.
The painting soon became a part of the familyās daily life, earning the nickname “the gouge” because of its odd shapes. Little did they know, it was an original Picasso piece.
A Spark of Curiosity
It wasnāt until the early 2000s that the true value of the painting began to emerge. Lo Rossoās eldest son noticed a striking resemblance between the painting hanging in their home and the works of Picasso featured in his schoolbooks. After much discussion, the family finally decided to have the painting examined by experts, even though they had dismissed the idea for years.
Confirming the Picasso
After years of doubt, expert analysis confirmed that the painting was indeed created by the famous Cubist master. The work, believed to be a Portrait of Dora MaarāPicassoās companion for nearly a decadeādates back to the 1940s or 1950s. Another piece titled Buste de Femme Dora Maar exists, suggesting that Picasso may have painted two portraits of her over time.
But the family’s journey didnāt stop there. The painting was seized as part of a legal investigation into its origins, only to be returned to the Lo Rosso family after it was confirmed not to be stolen. Yet, one significant challenge remained: the Picasso Foundation in Paris, managed by the artist’s sons, refused to recognize the work.
The Battle for Recognition
To strengthen their case, the Lo Rosso family turned to the Arcadia Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of artistic heritage. The foundation arranged for a new round of expert analyses, including a study by court consultant Cinzia Altieri. In September, Altieri authenticated the signature, putting an end to any remaining doubts about the painting’s origin.
The Portrait of Dora Maar, now safely stored in a vault in Milan, has been valued at a staggering six million euros. Experts believe the value could soar to 12 million euros if the Picasso Foundation changes its stance.
Itās Pricelessā¦ But Not for Sale
Despite its high valuation, donāt expect this newly discovered Picasso to hit the auction block anytime soon. The painting holds deep sentimental value for the Lo Rosso family. āThat painting is a piece of the Lo Rosso family of Pompeii and is not for sale,ā says Andrea Lo Rosso, Luigi’s son. āWe only wanted an evaluation, but weāre not selling it. It was my fatherās will, and heās no longer with us.ā
For now, the Lo Rosso family treasures the painting not just for its value, but for the memories it representsāa legacy hidden in plain sight for decades. Kinda makes you wanna visit Goodwill, doesn’t it?
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