A remarkable discovery by a junk dealer in a Capri cellar has been identified as an original Picasso portrait. Luigi Lo Rosso stumbled upon the painting in 1962 and, despite his wife's aversion to it, took it home to Pompeii, where it hung in their living room for decades. The painting remained largely unnoticed until Lo Rosso's son, Andrea, began researching art history and spotted the distinctive signature in the top left corner.

Seeking confirmation, the family consulted a team of experts, including renowned art detective Maurizio Seracini. Cinzia Altieri, a graphologist and member of the Arcadia Foundation’s scientific committee, confirmed that the painting's style was consistent with Picasso's work. The artwork is now valued at approximately £5 million (around Rs 55.7 crore).

"I was tasked with studying the signature after all other examinations were completed. I compared it with several of Picasso's original works for months. There is no doubt that the signature is authentic, and there's no evidence to suggest otherwise," Altieri explained to The Guardian.

The portrait is believed to depict Dora Maar, a French photographer and painter who was both Picasso’s muse and mistress. Although Luigi Lo Rosso has passed away, Andrea, now 60, has continued to investigate his father's find.

"My father, a junk collector from Capri, discovered the painting long before I was born and had no idea who Picasso was. He wasn't very cultured. I kept suggesting that it looked similar to Picasso's work, but he didn't understand. As I grew older, I couldn't shake my curiosity," Andrea recounted.

He also revealed that the family contemplated disposing of the painting due to his mother's strong dislike for it. "She found it repulsive and repeatedly urged us to get rid of it," he noted.

Andrea's journey to authenticate the painting encountered obstacles, particularly when the Picasso Foundation in Málaga repeatedly dismissed his claims as unfounded. However, experts, including Altieri, have now validated its authenticity.

Interestingly, Picasso frequently visited Capri, where the painting was found, and its estimated creation date between 1930 and 1936 aligns with his artistic development during that period. Throughout his lifetime, Picasso produced over 14,000 works, leaving room for previously unknown pieces to surface.

Currently, the painting is stored in a vault in Milan, awaiting official recognition from the Picasso Foundation.