Full Breakdown
Picasso Portrait Raffle to Benefit Alzheimer’s Research
4/11/2026, 2:54:38 AM
Overview of the Raffle Event
A charity raffle in France is offering participants the chance to win a valuable portrait by Pablo Picasso for a ticket price of 100 euros (approximately $117). The draw is scheduled for Tuesday at Christie's auction house in Paris. This event, titled “1 Picasso for 100 euros,” aims to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research, with proceeds benefiting the Alzheimer Research Foundation, a prominent financier of Alzheimer-related medical research in France since its establishment in 2004.
Historical Context of Picasso Raffles
The inaugural raffle took place in 2013, where a fire-sprinkler worker from Pennsylvania won the painting “Man in the Opera Hat,” created by Picasso in 1914 during his Cubist period. A subsequent raffle in 2020 awarded the oil-on-canvas piece “Nature Morte” to Claudia Borgogno, an accountant in Italy, who received the ticket as a Christmas gift from her son. The paintings for these raffles have been sourced from notable art collectors, including billionaire David Nahmad, who emphasized that Picasso would have supported the idea of making his art accessible to a broader audience.
Current Raffle Details
The painting featured in this upcoming raffle is “Tête de Femme,” painted by Picasso in 1941, and is valued at 1 million euros (approximately $1.17 million). The raffle organizers have capped ticket sales at 120,000, which could potentially generate up to 12 million euros (around $14 million) if all tickets are sold. From the total proceeds, 1 million euros will be allocated to the Opera Gallery, the international art dealership that owns the painting. Previous raffles have successfully raised over 10 million euros for various cultural initiatives, including projects in Lebanon and water and hygiene programs in Africa.
Official Statements & Responses
David Nahmad, the art collector involved in the raffle, stated, “Picasso was very generous. He gave paintings to his driver, his tailor. He wanted his art to be collected by all kinds of people, not only by the super-rich.” This sentiment reflects the raffle's mission to democratize access to art while supporting a significant cause.
Criticism & Opposition
While the raffle has garnered positive attention for its charitable intentions, some critics question the ethics of raffling high-value artworks. Concerns have been raised about the commodification of art and whether such events undermine the cultural significance of the pieces involved.
What's Next
The raffle will take place on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Christie's in Paris, with the painting available for public viewing starting Monday. The outcome of this event will not only determine the winner of the Picasso portrait but also the extent of financial support for Alzheimer’s research in France.
