In a remarkable twist of fate, a forgotten painting tucked away in a family home for decades has been identified as a genuine work by the legendary Pablo Picasso, valued at an astonishing $6.6 million. The story, which reads like something out of a movie, centers around the Lo Rosso family, whose humble beginnings as junk dealers in Capri, Italy, never hinted at the incredible treasure they unknowingly possessed.
It all began in 1962, when Luigi Lo Rosso, a hardworking junk dealer, was cleaning out a cellar in a house in Capri. Among the discarded items, he stumbled upon an unusual painting. Though clearly signed in the top left corner, neither Luigi nor his family had any idea that the signature belonged to one of the most famous artists in history—Pablo Picasso.
Luigi’s son, Andrea Lo Rosso, now 60, recounted the incredible story, explaining that his father was not a man of culture and had never heard of Picasso. “He found the painting before I was even born, and he didn’t have a clue who Picasso was,” Andrea said. “My father was from Capri and would collect junk to sell for next to nothing.”
The painting, however, wasn’t exactly loved by the family. Andrea’s mother found the artwork repulsive and wanted nothing to do with it. Despite her protests, Luigi hung the painting on the living room wall in their home in Pompeii, framing it cheaply and displaying it like any ordinary piece of art. It remained there for decades, unnoticed by anyone outside the family.
Andrea, however, always suspected there was something special about the painting. As he grew older, he began comparing the signature on the painting to examples he found in encyclopedias. “I kept telling my father it was similar,” Andrea said. “But he didn’t see it.” His father, disinterested in the art world, shrugged off his son’s growing curiosity.
After years of speculation, Andrea finally decided to take action. Seeking the expertise of art professionals, the family enlisted the help of local experts, including renowned art detective Maurizio Seracini. After months of investigation, graphologist Cinzia Altieri, a member of the scientific committee of the Arcadia Foundation, confirmed what Andrea had long suspected—the signature was indeed Picasso’s.
The painting is believed to have been created between 1930 and 1936 and is thought to be a portrait of Picasso’s mistress, French photographer and painter Dora Maar. The two had a famously tumultuous relationship, which ended in 1945. The artwork, hidden in plain sight for so long, now stands as a testament to Picasso’s prolific career, which produced over 14,000 works before his death in 1973.
Though Luigi passed away before the painting’s authenticity was confirmed, his son Andrea has continued the quest for verification. The final judgment will come from the Picasso Foundation in Malaga, Spain, which will have the last word on whether the painting is indeed an original Picasso.
For now, the priceless artwork sits in a vault in Milan, awaiting its fate. But for the Lo Rosso family, the discovery is about more than money. “We were just a normal family, and the aim has always been to establish the truth,” Andrea said. “We’re not interested in making money out of it.”
In an age where so much focus is placed on material wealth, the Lo Rosso family’s story is a refreshing reminder that some treasures are priceless, not because of their monetary value, but because of the history and mystery they carry.