"I PRESENT TO YOU MY FRIEND ROLAND PENROSE, WHO IS WRITING A BOOK ABOUT ME": AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY PICASSO

PICASSO, Pablo. Autograph letter signed. Cannes, March 4, 1956. One leaf, measuring 5-1/4 by 8-1/4 inches, writing in ink on recto; handsomely floated, matted and framed with a later print of his self-portrait, entire piece measures 17-1/2 inches by 15 inches. $13,500.

Autograph letter signed by Pablo Picasso, written to his friend the banker Max Pellequer.

The letter, written from Picasso's studio ("La Californie") in Cannes, reads in full in translation: "'La Californie' Cannes le 4.3.56. "My dear friend Max, I present to you my friend Roland Penrose, who is writing a book about me. He would like me to see his words [manuscript] at your house. Thank you and best to you. Picasso." The recipient of this letter, 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. Sir Roland Penrose (1900-1982) was a British surrealist artist and avid promoter of modern art. He wrote Portrait of Picasso in connection with an exhibition in celebration of Picasso's 75th birthday, held from May to September 1956 at the Institute Contemporary of Contemporary Arts in London and MOMA in New York. With an introduction by Alfred Barr, the volume included paintings and drawings, personal photographs, documents and souvenirs of Picasso as seen by himself and through the eyes of his friends.

Fine condition.