Italian Family Aims to Authenticate Painting Discarded in Capri as a Possible Picasso

An Italian family is seeking to confirm that a painting found over 60 years ago on Capri is a genuine Picasso. They have collected scientific evidence to convince the Picasso estate in Paris to authenticate it. The painting, depicting a female figure, was discovered in the early 1960s among discarded items and hung unnoticed in their home and restaurant near Naples for years.

Andrea Lo Russo, whose family owns the painting, recalled his mother calling it "ugly." He first suspected its significance after seeing a Picasso in a textbook but faced skepticism from his teacher and father. Despite this, his curiosity led him to take the painting to the Picasso Museum in Paris, where experts doubted its authenticity. Lo Russo refused to leave it for further examination.

Scientific Analysis and Authentication Efforts

Over time, Lo Russo encountered fraudsters and was even investigated for trafficking forged art, though he cleared his name with documentation of his verification attempts. Recently, tests by the Arcadia Foundation suggested the painting might be a Picasso. These tests showed that the paints matched those used by Picasso during that era.

Luca Marcante, founder of the Arcadia Foundation, stated that a handwriting expert confirmed the signature as Picasso's. However, only the Picasso Administration in Paris can officially authenticate it. Despite numerous inquiries, they have not responded. Marcante plans to present the latest findings to them soon.

Potential Value and Historical Context

Marcante estimated the painting's value at 6 million euros (USD 6.6 million), which could rise to 10-12 million euros if authenticated. The painting is now stored securely in Milan. It resembles a 1949 work attributed to Picasso called "Tete du femme," listed in an online project by Sam Houston State University.

Marcante believes Picasso visited Pompeii in 1917 and possibly painted this piece on Capri in the early 1940s. He argues it's not a forgery due to differences from "Tete du femme," such as distinct ceilings and a missing seat edge.

Expert Opinions and Family Decisions

Enrique Mallen, who manages the online Picasso Project, expressed doubt about Picasso creating two similar paintings. He noted that "Tete du femme" appears to depict Dora Maar and questioned why no other records exist beyond a 1967 book listing it in Turin.

Mallen clarified that his database includes over 41,000 entries of Picasso's works but doesn't verify their authenticity; only the Picasso Administration can do so. Marcante described "Tete du femme" as a "ghost painting" since it's unseen by anyone else.

If confirmed as a Picasso, Lo Russo's family remains undecided about selling it amid growing interest since news of its potential provenance emerged. "We are confused ourselves," Lo Russo admitted.