Art world stunned after ‘African Mona Lisa’ painting goes for $1.6 million | The Grio



A missing painting known as the “African Mona Lisa” broke records after reportedly selling for more than $1.6 million.

The artwork “Tutu” was created by Ben Enwonwu during the aftermath of Nigeria’s bloody civil war and went missing shortly after being painted in 1974. The portrait was discovered in a family home in London late last year, according to CNN.

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The African Mona Lisa painting was the subject of the Ife princess Adetutu Ademiluyi‘s life (abbreviated as “Tutu”). Estimated sales of the painting were projected between $275,000 to $413,000, less than a quarter of the final bid by a London auction house. However, once the painting was authenticated it shattered sales estimates.

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