Picasso painting discovered in junk dealer's home after 60 years

A painting by Pablo Picasso, titled 'Buste de Femme ritratto di Dora Maar', was discovered in the home of a junk dealer from Pompeii who had kept it for sixty years without knowing its value. The dealer found the rolled canvas in the 1960s while clearing out a cellar in Capri, framed it, and hung it in his living room. His son later recognized the style from art history books. After the dealer's death, the family sought authentication. Art detective Luca Gentile Canal Mercante, president of the Fondazione Arcadia, led the investigation. Experts including Paolo Cornale (CSG Palladio), Davide Bussolari (X Diagnostica per l'Arte Fabbri), Franca Vitelli (Studio Legale Vitelli), and engineer Maurizio Seracini conducted chemical analyses, stylistic comparisons, and historical research. On the last day of September in Milan, forensic graphologist Cinzia Altieri confirmed the signature is authentic. However, the Picasso Foundation, run by the artist's heirs, has doubts because a similar painting already exists in the official catalogue. If authenticated, the work could be worth €12 million.