Discovery of 271 undiscovered Picasso works has art world astir

Mon, 29 Nov 2010

Paris - A retired electrician in France has come forth with 271 previously unknown works by Spanish artist Picasso - a claim which, if true, would set the art world astir.

The newspaper Liberation reported Monday that the man, PIerre Le Guennec, 71, claims he purchased the works personally from Picasso. Picasso died in 1973, but his influence looms large in modern art. If the find is authenticated, the pieces could be worth 60 million euros (78.5 million dollars).

The works include nine rare Cubist collages, which would be worth 40 million euros alone, and a portrait of Picasso's first wife, Olga.

Charges that the works are stolen were already filed by Picasso's family in September, reported Liberation. Family members claim Picasso did not like to part from his works and would have never let them leave his workshop without a signature and date.

"It would be unusual for him to just give away that amount of works," Picasso's son Claude told the newspaper. "Many of the pieces are not dated, which means they never should have left my father's workshop."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/355760,works-art-world-astir.html.