Abu Dhabi to unveil unseen Picasso work

A never before seen portrait by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso is to be exhibited in Abu Dhabi after being acquired by the emirate's yet-to-be opened branch of the Louvre.

'Portrait of a Lady' will be included as part of the 'Birth of a Museum' exhibition on Saadiyat Island, which starts on April 22 and runs until July 20. When open in 2015, the piece will form part of Louvre Abu Dhabi's permanent collection.

The work is practically unknown and is believed to have only been mentioned once, in 'A Life of Picasso: The Triumphant Years, 1917-1932' written by John Richardson in 2007. Picasso, known as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, was widely known as the founder of the Cubist movement in modern art. He died in 1973.

About 130 never before exhibited artworks are set to go on display in the UAE capital next month at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural District's art and exhibition centre, in preparation for the Louvre museum's full opening in 2015.

The developer behind Abu Dhabi's plan to build a branch of Paris's world-famous Louvre museum has previously said that construction work will get under way early this year.

The emirate's tourism arm, which is also building a branch of New York's Guggenheim museum in the Gulf Arab emirate, confirmed construction will begin in the first quarter of 2013.

Both museums were originally scheduled to open between 2013 and 2014 but were delayed due to a government review of projects.