Bulgaria Lays Claim to Mystery Pollock Artwork Found in Raid

The painting 'Blue Poles' by US artist Jackson Pollock undergoes conservation work at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, 30 June 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

"There's a high chance of the painting remaining permanently in Bulgaria, since it was found here and will do everything that is in our capacity for this to be done," he said on TV on Thursday.

Authorities had been alerted that the important and undeclared artwork was about to be sold to third parties. 

Initially, the Sofia Prosecution said the painting has been in the country for several months and was worth an estimated 50 million euros. Demerdzhiev estimates the value as even higher.

The minister confirmed that the painting was part of Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu's collection, possibly given to him by a diplomat, and that at some point, it was trafficked to Greece and then to Bulgaria.

But there's also a mysterious backstory, as on the back a handwritten note reads: "Dedicated to my very talented and dear friend Lauren Bacall. Happy Birthday", dated September 16, 1949.

This presumably refers to Hollywood star Lauren Bacall (1924-2014). There's also a sign indicating that the painting was restored 20 years ago. 

"Experts have seen the painting and say that it is authentic", said the minister, although after the discovery experts have warned the media that the verification process will be long and complex. 

"It's impossible to conclude whether this is an original in such a short period of time," art restoration specialist Emil Chushev told Nova TV on Thursday and added that the technology needed for the process is not even available in Bulgaria. 

Two Greek and one Bulgarian...