"Picasso's canvases are often used repeatedly, because in those days could not afford to purchase new materials - said Picasso biographer John Richardson. - This image of [a man with a mustache] could relate to the previous period of creative masters».

chief restorer and Deputy Director Carol Stringari Guggenheim Museum (Carol Stringari) explained that although the picture and X-ray translucent, but the money for a more detailed study it was not there before. Nevertheless curators, historians and scientists have wondered for many years over who would it be. Some believe it could be the author himself. Others thought that the picture may be represented Benet Soler (Benet Soler) - a tailor and his artist friend. Soler at the time kept by Picasso, and Master wrote his portraits.

Bank of America recently highlighted the Guggenheim Museum a grant sufficient to conduct serious research. "With these resources, we can carry out scientific analysis and a little restoration," - commented Ms. Stringari . picture will participate in the exhibition "Picasso: black and white", the opening scheduled for October 5, 2012.

inherited Guggenheim grant from Bank of America is a global project to help restorers. Bank officer Rina M. DeSisto (Rena M. DeSisto) explained that since 2010 they allocate grants for the restoration of works of art to European, African and Middle Eastern countries. This year the project has expanded and conquered Latin America and the United States. Results will be paid for the restoration of 20 works in 19 countries. Grants of this 2-million project range from 40 to 200 thousand dollars. How much was allocated to study paintings by Picasso, is unknown, but Miss De Sisto said that the sum tends to the upper limit possible size of the grant.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI