Description:

Pablo Picasso
Cannes, France, March 26, 1959
Pablo Picasso PSA GEM MT 10 Rare ALS Dated 3 Months Before Guillaume Apollinaire Bronze Sculpture Was Inaugurated
ALS

A 1p autograph letter in French signed by Spanish Modern artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) as "Picasso" at lower right. March 26, 1959. Written at Villa La Californie, Picasso's home and artist's studio in Cannes, France from 1955-1961. Boldly inscribed in blue felt-tip pen in horizontal lines on a watermarked paper sheet. Encapsulated and PSA/DNA certified and graded GEM MT 10. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, else near fine and very legible. Currently in a PSA plastic sleeve. The actual size of the letter is 10.125" x 8.25" while the slab measures 13.125" x 9.625."

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.

Just three months after writing this letter, one of Picasso's bronze sculptures, "La Poésie," was officially inaugurated in Square Laurent-Prache, a public park abutting L'Église Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris, France. The sculpture, a massive woman's head modeled after Picasso's onetime lover, the French artist Dora Maar, was dedicated to Picasso's friend, the French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who died of Spanish influenza in 1918. Picasso had submitted numerous ideas for a monument dedicated to Apollinaire since the early 1920s, but "La Poésie" was the first accepted. Cast in bronze at the Valsuani Foundry, the 31" high head weighed about 176 lb and was positioned on a pale stone base. "La Poésie" was officially inaugurated on June 5, 1959. Picasso did not attend the ceremony, which was beleaguered by protestors objecting to the presence of Apollinaire's friend, fellow Surrealist artist Jean Cocteau. "La Poésie" remained on display in Square Laurent-Prache until 1999, when it was stolen by vandals. Later recovered heavily damaged, the head was restored and reinstalled in 2001.

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 26.3.59.

Mon cher Pellequer

Voici l'accusé de Réception des déclarations - (27.2.1959.)

Toutes nos amitiés pour vous deux et bien à vous

Picasso."

Translated in full:

"'La Californie'
Cannes A.M. [Alpes-Maritimes]
the 26.3.59.

My dear Pellequer

Here is the delivery receipt of the declarations - (27.2.1959.)

All of our best wishes for you both and best regards

Picasso."

Much of Picasso's correspondence with Pellequer includes financial content like this one, such as 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 his 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: 13.125" x 9.625"
  • Medium: ALS

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