A man has won an original Pablo Picasso painting worth more than €1 million (£870,000; $1.2 million) in a charity raffle.
Ari Hodara, an engineer and art enthusiast, learned he was the winner on Tuesday when he answered a video call from Christie's auction house in Paris.
How do I know this isn't a prank? the 58-year-old asked upon being told he owned the 1941 piece by the Spanish master.
Organisers reported over 120,000 tickets for the draw were sold at €100 (£87; $118) each, raising about €11 million (£10 million; $13 million) for Alzheimer's research.
This draw was the third edition of the 1 Picasso for 100 euros fundraising raffle, established in 2013.
This year's prize was 'Tête de Femme' (Head of a Woman), a gouache-on-paper portrait showcasing Picasso's distinctive style, depicting his partner and muse, French surrealist artist Dora Maar.
I was surprised, that's it, said Hodara. When you bet on this, you don't expect to win... But I'm very happy because I'm very interested in painting, and it's great news for me.
Hodara's ticket was number 94,715. He purchased it over the weekend after discovering the competition by chance.
The raffle was organised by French journalist Peri Cochin, with support from Picasso's family and foundation. She indicated that it was fortuitous the winner resided in Paris, simplifying the delivery of the artwork.
The city is notable as Picasso's residence for a significant time, with countless exhibitions of his works within its museums.
From the money raised, €1 million is designated for the Opera Gallery, the painting's owner, while the remaining funds will assist France's Alzheimer's Research Foundation.
Olivier de Ladoucette, head of the foundation, commented, This Picasso initiative is one more building block so that one day Alzheimer's will be nothing more than a bad memory.
The inaugural raffle was won by a 25-year-old American from Pennsylvania in 2013, aiming to preserve the Lebanese city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The second edition was won in 2020 by an Italian accountant, with proceeds aiding sanitary projects across various African countries.
