A 58-year-old engineer and art enthusiast has become the proud owner of an authentic Pablo Picasso painting valued at over €1 mln (£870,000) after securing the winning ticket in a charity prize draw, BBC reports.
Ari Hodara received the life-changing news on Tuesday via a video call from the prestigious Christie’s auction house in Paris. Overwhelmed by the announcement, his immediate reaction was sheer disbelief, prompting him to ask the auctioneers if the call was an elaborate hoax.
A masterpiece for a good cause
The global fundraiser, famously titled «1 Picasso for 100 euros», sold upwards of 120,000 tickets. This massive public participation managed to raise approximately €11 mln (£10 mln) to support crucial Alzheimer’s research.
The coveted prize was a 1941 work named Tête de Femme (Head of a Woman). Created in gouache on paper, the portrait showcases the Spanish master’s iconic style and depicts the French surrealist artist Dora Maar, who famously served as his partner and muse.
Speaking to auctioneers shortly after his victory was confirmed, Hodara expressed his absolute astonishment.
«When you bet on this, you don’t expect to win. But I’m very happy because I’m very interested in painting, and it’s great news for me.»
He revealed that he purchased his lucky ticket numbered 94,715 purely by chance over the preceding weekend.
Keeping the art local
French journalist Peri Cochin orchestrated the charitable draw with the official backing of the Picasso foundation and family. She noted her delight that the painting would be staying local, despite entries pouring in from numerous countries across the globe.
«It’s going to be very easy for us to deliver the painting, so we’re happy,» Cochin remarked.
Paris famously served as Picasso’s home base for much of his legendary career. Today, the city remains a hub for his legacy, with its museums proudly displaying thousands of the artist’s prints, sculptures and paintings.
A legacy of philanthropy
Out of the impressive funds gathered, €1 mln will be used to compensate the Opera Gallery, which previously held the artwork. The remainder of the proceeds will be funnelled directly into France’s Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
Olivier de Ladoucette, the foundation’s director, told the AFP news agency that the initiative represents a vital stepping stone toward a future where Alzheimer’s is «nothing more than a bad memory».
This marks the third iteration of the charitable campaign since its inception in 2013:
- 2013 (First Edition): A 25-year-old American scooped the inaugural prize. The funds raised were directed toward preserving the ancient Lebanese city of Tyre, a designated Unesco World Heritage Site.
- 2020 (Second Edition): A 58-year-old Italian accountant secured the grand prize after her son gifted her a ticket for Christmas. The proceeds financed educational and sanitation programmes across Cameroon, Madagascar and Morocco.
