An Italian woman has been identified as the lucky winner of an oil painting by Pablo Picasso that was offered up in a charity raffle Wednesday.
Raffle organizers identified her as Claudia Borgogno.
Her winning ticket was picked out in an electronic draw at the auction house Christie’s in Paris.
The painting "Nature morte" by Picasso hangs on a wall at Christie's auction house, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Paris. After an eight-week delay caused by France's COVID-19 lockdown, the Christie's auction house in Paris is hosting a raffle draw Wednesday for "Nature Morte," an oil on canvas that Picasso painted in 1921.Raffle organizers say they have already raised 5 million euros ($5.4 million) by selling 50,000 tickets online for 100 euros ($109) each. Their hoped-for sales target was 200,000 tickets but the coronavirus crisis complicated the task. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Organizers valued the painting, “Nature Morte,” or Still Life, as being worth 1 million euros ($1.1 million).
“Claudia has won this extraordinary painting tonight that is worth one million and so is a millionaire,” organizer Peri Cochin announced after the winner's name and winning ticket number were displayed on a screen.
The 51,140 tickets sold for 100 euros ($109) each. Proceeds are going to provide water for villagers in Madagascar and Cameroon.
Raffle organizers Peri Cochin, left, and Arabenne Reille put the painting "Nature morte" by Picasso in its frame at Christie's auction house, Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Paris. After an eight-week delay caused by France's COVID-19 lockdown, the Christie's auction house in Paris is hosting a raffle draw Wednesday for "Nature Morte," an oil on canvas that Picasso painted in 1921. Raffle organizers say they have already raised 5 million euros ($5.4 million) by selling 50,000 tickets online for 100 euros ($109) each. Their hoped-for sales target was 200,000 tickets but the coronavirus crisis complicated the task. (AP PhotoFrancois Mori)
Organizers said the winner ticket was initially bought by someone else in Italy in December and then seemingly given as a gift to the eventual winner.