Picasso's grandson auctions art to save a city

While I was watching The Soup this past weekend, I saw a clip about Olivier Widmaier Picasso, the grandson of Pablo Picasso and his then muse and mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter, (you might remember her from such paintings like 'Le Reve', which coincidentally sold at auction earlier this year for $155 million!) and his quest to help save an ancient Phoenician city, Tyre, located in Lebanon. For 100 euros (or about $138 US), you can purchase a raffle ticket to try to win "The Man with the Opera Hat" that was painted by Picasso in 1914. The only catch is that there are a grand total of 50,000 tickets available. The money raised will be used by two arts and cultural projects. When asked why he is helping out the city, Picasso said that "the cause is important not only to maintain the physical structures" but to also “to preserve the traditions.”

I can't wait to see who the lucky owner will be!

Forget The Lottery; You Have Better Odds Of Winning This Picasso - NPR
Picasso’s Grandson Raffles off Painting to Save Ancient City - CNN