"A View Of Picasso..."

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Yesterday ( says The Times) a Blue Period portrait by Picasso ( of his friend: Angel Fernandez de Soto) sold at Christie's for 34.76 million. It appears the auctioneers expected even more...

Last week I went to this summer's Picasso exhibition at Liverpool Tate ( see poster above) and I was in for a surprise. ....

The Exhibition is a vast collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics...Picasso's random jottings, his scribblings....petitions he signed, pamphlets he wrote..and there are also his numerous designs...for posters, scarves, so many things....

So much of this showed his feelings about war, about peace itself...also his phenomenal talent...but it was Picasso's generosity of spirit that opened wide our eyes.. because his was a generosity shown through both talent AND wealth....he gave in both ways ...to people he felt oppressed, to people with causes warranting his recognition, to people who clearly touched his heart...

AND THEN in London yesterday.... one single painting sold for 34.76 million...

BUT Here are some further thoughts: It appears that the painting was sold by Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Foundation. They bought it in '95 and exhibited it in both National Gallery/Royal Academy. The Foundation now intends to use the money to support the training of talented young stars in musical theatre.

THEY will indeed be very fortunate young people...