The man who bought Abaporu for US$250,000

During an interview, the Argentine millionaire who bought the work 30 years ago said that the painting is 'priceless'
Argentine billionaire Eduardo Costantini has a calibrated eye for Latin American artwork. Recently, he acquired the sculpture "Cobra Grande", by Maria Martins, after an agreement with gallery owner Thiago Gomide. But his greatest acquisition was Tarsila do Amaral's "Abaporu".

Thirty years ago, Costantini, who also works as an economist and businessman, mined one of the best-known works in the history of Brazilian art at an auction in New York, organized by Raul Forbes, the former owner of the painting.
Today, he believes that the painting is worth US$ 50 million, approximately, R$ 250 million, which would be almost 40 times more than what he paid in 1995. When asked about the removal of the painting from its country of origin, the Argentine says that the painting is better in its new home, at the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires, the Malba.