Description:

Pablo Picasso
Villa La Californie, Cannes, France, July 20, 1961
Pablo Picasso PSA GEM MT 10 Rare ALS Addressed to Art Collector, Patron & Financial Advisor
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by Spanish Modern artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) as "Picasso" at bottom. July 20, 1961. Written at Villa La Californie, Picasso's home and artist's studio in Cannes, France from 1955-1961. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded GEM MT 10. Inscribed on one side of a folded piece of paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds and a few extra wrinkles, else near fine and very legible. The actual size of the folded letter is 5.375" x 8.375" while the slab measures 9.75" x 13.125."

Picasso addressed this letter to Max Pellequer (before 1903 - after 1973), a close friend who has been called the artist's "finance minister" by one art historian. It is a testament to Picasso's intimacy with Pellequer (the two were friends between 1914 and the early 1970s) that the artist penned an entire autograph letter signed to him instead of relegating this task to Jaime Sabartés, Picasso's private secretary and later biographer. Overall, autograph letters signed by Picasso of any length or content are extremely rare because Picasso was often too busy or too bored to be bothered with correspondence.

Please see below for the transcript in French and the English translation, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

Transcribed in full:

"'La Californie'
Cannes A.M.
le 20.7.61.

Mon cher Max

Voici encore des papiers pour des contributions. Je suis bien fache de vous embeter. Merci

Merci

Il fait chaud

On vous embrasse

Je vous embrasse

votre
Picasso."

Translated in full:

"'La Californie'
Cannes A.M. [Alpes-Maritimes]
7/20/61.

My dear Max

Here again are the papers for the contributions. I am very angry at having to bother you. Thank you

Thank you

It is hot

We embrace you

I embrace you

your
Picasso."

Much of Picasso's correspondence with Pellequer includes financial content like this one, discussing Picasso's tax assessments and tax payments, his contributions to benefit funds, his insurance payments, and his residency status. Personal remarks that Picasso makes in these letters relate to the weather, family, acquaintances, and current artistic projects.

Max Pellequer was a French banker who co-founded and later directed the Banque Nationale du Commerce et de l'Industrie. Over several decades, Pellequer's astute financial advice and shrewd stewardship of Picasso's sprawling assets enabled the artist to become a millionaire. Pellequer was also a kindred spirit, a serious art collector who acquired artwork by artists like Picasso, Degas, Cézanne, Gauguin, Matisse, Miró, Modigliani, Dufy, and others. Picasso purchased works from Pellequer's collection, and the artist designed a bookplate for his beloved friend. During the Nazi occupation of France, Pellequer is believed to have helped save some of Picasso's work by hiding it. This is no small accomplishment when one considers it would have probably been classified as "degenerate" by the Nazis and otherwise destroyed.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: slabbed: 9.75" x 13.125"
  • Medium: ALS

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