BONHAMS TO SELL HAUNTING PICASSO PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST’S FRIEND
An intimate portrait by Pablo Picasso of the artist’s friend Mr Minguell is to feature in the Impressionist and Modern Art auction at Bonhams on Tuesday 22nd June, and is estimated to fetch £700,000-1,000,000.
The painting is a very well executed classic portrait which was completed just before he embarked on his famous blue period – the blue background perhaps indicating his future direction. It harks back to the tradition of Spanish portraiture that originated with Goya and displays a similar intensity and muted, melancholy colours. It was painted at a time when Picasso was barely scraping a living as an artist. He was sharing an apartment in Paris with the journalist and poet Max Jacob, taking it in turns to sleep in a tiny room and often burning his sketches in order to keep warm. This frugal existence is reflected in the work itself which was painted in oil on cheap card, but has since been laid down on canvas to enhance its durability.
Edward Plackett, of Bonhams Impressionist and Modern Art Department comments, “We’re thrilled to be offering such a fantastic work in our June auction. Many people associate Picasso with the signature modernist works for which he is best known, but this portrait shows an alternative, personal side to the artist as well as giving insight into his friendship with the tailor. It joins a line up of other excellent works in our auction including paintings by Marc Chagall, Kees Van Dongen and Auguste Renoir.”
Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas.For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com