One of this century's most important works of art -- a collection of unseen works by Pablo Picasso -- has been sold in Paris.

The collection includes seven paintings dating from the time of the Spanish Civil War.

They were discovered in a bank vault belonging to Picasso's one-time lover, Dora Maar, who died last year.

All the paintings feature her.

The most important work, the Weeping Woman, was sold for nearly seven million dollars -- about twice as much as art dealers had expected.