A painting back to the 19 century Beirut - Riyad Shuman                                            Although he is only 16, the Lebanese teenager Youssef Chehab has amassed more than 400 paintings from well-known international artists spanning  a period from the 19 century until 2010. Chehab is not only a collector, but he has gained a broad knowledge about art and its trends.
Chehab makes his own choice about which paintings to buy and knows the story behind each one of them. He began this journey four years ago, when his parents decided to support his passion for art, particularly his mother who has nurtured his talent since he was a child.
Chehab has made several visits to Paris accompanied by his parents, to visi art museums and galleries, and this has helped to enrich his cultural knowledge combined with his own research.
The young collector selects paintings from his favourite  artists depending on the cost of the work,  but he never regrets his purchases, as he believes the value of art is priceless.
A part of Chahab\'s collection will be exhibited in the French Cultural Centre in Beirut from 19 to 28 April.
After two years, Chehab will join the university, and he is yet to decide whether to join the law faculty as his parents did, or it is better to for him to be an art specialist so he can find a job in one of the world\'s major art institutions.