Four Picasso family members have said that they will form a group to authenticate works by Picasso, Carol Vogel reports in her Inside Art column in The New York Times. As Ms. Vogel notes, the news is something of a surprise as many authentication authorities, including those for works by Basquiat, Warhol and Haring, have closed, or announced plans to do so, fearing lawsuits from collectors who disagree with their assessments.
Exact details about the new Paris–based board have not yet been released, but Picasso’s son, Claude Ruiz-Picasso, will helm the process, which will also involve Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, the artist’s grandson; “Anne Paloma Picasso Thevenet, the artist’s youngest daughter; Marina Ruiz-Picasso, a granddaughter; and Claude Ruiz-Picasso, the artist’s son,” according to The Times. Bernard Ruiz-Picasso cited the need to protect against fakes in the market.
Given that Picasso was extremely prolific for some 75 years, producing thousands of works in a variety of media, the group is likely have plenty of business.
