A unique charity initiative in France is offering art enthusiasts and philanthropists an extraordinary opportunity: the chance to win an original portrait by Pablo Picasso for just 100 euros per ticket, with all proceeds dedicated to funding critical Alzheimer's disease research.
Raffle Details and Charitable Mission
The "1 Picasso for 100 euros" raffle, organized by the Alzheimer Research Foundation, will hold its draw on Tuesday at the prestigious Christie's auction house in Paris. The foundation, based at one of Paris' leading public hospitals, has established itself as France's foremost private financier of Alzheimer-related medical research since its inception in 2004.
The Prize: Picasso's "Tête de Femme"
The artwork at stake is Picasso's gouache on paper creation titled "Tête de Femme," which translates to "head of a woman." This significant piece was painted by the Spanish master in 1941 during his prolific career. Christie's will display the painting at its Paris galleries starting Monday, allowing potential ticket buyers to view the work before the 6 p.m. draw on Tuesday.
Financial Structure and Previous Successes
Organizers have implemented a cap of 120,000 tickets for this raffle. If all tickets sell, the draw could generate an impressive 12 million euros (approximately $14 million) for the charitable cause. From these proceeds, 1 million euros will be allocated to the Opera Gallery, the international art dealership that currently owns the painting.
This marks the third Picasso raffle organized by the foundation. The inaugural event in 2013 saw a fire-sprinkler worker from Pennsylvania win "Man in the Opera Hat," a Cubist period painting from 1914. In 2020, a second raffle awarded Picasso's oil-on-canvas "Nature Morte" (painted in 1921) to Claudia Borgogno, an Italian accountant whose son purchased the winning ticket as a Christmas gift.
Endorsement from the Art World
Billionaire art collector David Nahmad, who sold "Nature Morte" for the 2020 raffle, provided a rare interview to the Associated Press expressing his belief that Picasso would have approved of this unconventional approach to art distribution. "Picasso was very generous. He gave paintings to his driver, his tailor," Nahmad explained. "He wanted his art to be collected by all kinds of people, not only by the super-rich."
Broader Impact and Historical Context
The two previous Picasso raffles collectively raised more than 10 million euros, which supported cultural initiatives in Lebanon and water and hygiene programs across Africa. Picasso, who passed away in 1973, remains one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, making this charitable use of his work particularly noteworthy.
The Alzheimer Research Foundation continues to leverage high-value art to fund medical research, creating an innovative bridge between cultural appreciation and scientific advancement in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.
