An unknown painting by American abstract painter Jackson Pollock, found in Bulgaria as part of an international operation against cultural property smuggling, belonged to former Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu. It has been reported TASS Regarding Bulgarian National Television (BNT).
The origin of the painting by Pollock, from the private collection of Ceausescu, was determined by the Romanian print on the back of the painting.
According to Deputy Prosecutor Sofia Desislava Petrova, the painting was made for the birthday of Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall. In 1958, Bacall sold the painting, which first came to Romania, then to Greece, and then to Bulgaria.
The owner of the painting was not sure of its authenticity, so he hid it behind a cabinet. Experts estimate the cost of the painting to be € 50 million.
Paul Jackson Pollock is the leader of the abstract expressionism art movement, inventor of the “leap” method. Ceausescu ruled Romania for more than 20 years, but was overthrown during the popular revolution and shot with his wife on December 25, 1989.
Previously reportedthat the police found two stolen drawings of Salvador Dalí.