Italian who claims father bequeathed him unseen Picassos worth £150m is accused of fraud

Picasso in 1966 at his home in Mougins, where Marcello Santelia's father is recorded as having visited him in 1955

Paintings and drawings purportedly unseen before and attributed to Pablo Picasso, estimated to be worth over £150 million, have become the focal point of a contentious legal battle over their authenticity.

Marcello Santelia, an Italian businessman with ties to the UK, is being taken to court in Italy, accused of attempting to pass off counterfeit artworks as genuine. This legal dispute has garnered considerable attention due to the substantial value of the alleged Picasso collection and the sensational nature of the art fraud allegations.

Marcello Santelia, who insists his collection is of genuine Picassos

At the heart of the case are 36 paintings and drawings that Santelia claims to have inherited from his father, Giovanni, an art dealer and acquaintance of Picasso. These works, believed to have been created by Picasso between 1943 and 1956, form the basis of Santelia's defense against the fraud charges.

The controversy unfolded when Santelia sought an export license for one of the pieces, a portrait titled "Dora Maar con cappello," depicting Picasso's lover and muse. This request triggered an investigation by Italian authorities into the authenticity of the entire collection.

Picasso surrounded by artworks at his home in Mougins

Prosecutors at Rome’s central court are poised to argue that Santelia knowingly engaged in fraud by attempting to sell a forged artwork. However, Santelia and his legal team maintain that the works are genuine and have enlisted expert witnesses, including graphology and handwriting specialist Professor Alberto Bravo, to attest to their authenticity.

A painting of Picasso's lover and muse, Dora Maar, sold in 2006 for $85m. The painting which sparked the investigation is also said to have Maar as its subject

The Picasso Administration, responsible for managing Picasso's artistic legacy, is expected to present evidence supporting the prosecution's claims.

Despite the legal turmoil, Santelia remains steadfast in his assertion that these works are authentic pieces acquired directly from Picasso by his father. The outcome of this trial could have far-reaching implications for the art world and collectors alike, given the significant value and historical importance attached to Picasso's oeuvre.