Original sketch by Pablo Picasso of a sunny beach in Cannes, France, accomplished in colored pencil on an off-white 10.75 x 8.25 sheet, depicting a bright sun above a blue ocean and sandy beach with three orange umbrellas. The sheet contains an ALS in French from the artist, signed “Picasso,” dated August 22, 1857. Addressed from the “La Californie” villa, a handwritten letter to his friend and financial advisor Max Pellequer, in full (translated): “My dear friend, Here is the cheque for the taxman of the 6th (bank numbers/dates added in brackets). My best greetings to Madame Pellequer from us both. Kisses to you.” In fine condition, with unobtrusive intersecting folds.
An exquisite original work of summertime fancy from the beloved artist, boasting the rare addition of a holograph letter by Picasso, the scarcity of which French author Laurence Madeline touches on in her article ‘Picasso épistolier,’ stating: ‘The inertia paralyzing Picasso, who preferred his work as an artist to that of a secretary, made the letters he took pleasure in writing more essential and more touching.’ Residing in the hills above Cannes, Picasso was assisted by his loyal secretary and childhood friend, Jaume Sabartés, who handled the majority of his correspondence—except for a few, notably Max Pellequer. Picasso personally wrote each letter to Pellequer, even the most trivial ones, often including small, colorful sketches to delight his trusted correspondent.
Banker and collector Max Pellequer was introduced to Picasso in 1914 by his uncle by marriage André Level. He quickly became one of Picasso's most important collectors and his financial advisor for over 30 years. Pellequer's interest in his art began as early as the 1910s when he purchased a Picasso bronze from the art dealer Ambroise Vollard. During the 1930s and 1940s, as Picasso's personal banker, he secured and enhanced the painter's wealth and allowed him to settle comfortably in the South of France, from where this sketch was drawn and letter sent. Picasso created a superb ex-libris on copper for him, bought him paintings including La Mer à L'Estaque by Cézanne (now in the Picasso museum), and offered him a few other works. Pellequer assembled a vast collection of paintings by the great masters of modern art: Degas, Raoul Dufy, Paul Gauguin, Fernand Léger, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Modigliani, and Maurice Utrillo, which are today preserved in the most important international museums.
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