Granddaughter of Picasso plans to sell off the inheritance of his grandfather

MARSEILLES. As a child, Marina Picasso lived almost in poverty, for a small allowance, which she received from her grandfather. At the age of 20, she inherited a villa and a collection of paintings, but it took another 15 years to forget the old family insults, the indifference of her grandfather and the suicide of her brother. In the memoirs “Picasso: My Grandfather”, she laid bare all her pain and anger at the Picasso clan.

Today, Ms. Picasso is 64 years old and she is very seriously involved in charity work - helping a children’s hospital in Vietnam and a number of projects in France and Switzerland. To sponsor these projects, money is needed, which Marina Picasso is going to receive from the sale of part of the collection of art objects inherited from the great grandfather.

Ms. Picasso plans to sell paintings without resorting to the services of art dealers and auctioneers, and this approach has caused bewilderment both from the side of specialists and from other heirs resorting to the services of the largest specialists in the art market. Note that Marina Picasso regularly sold paintings from her inheritance, however, after the death of her dealer in 2008, she only resorted to the services of intermediaries, including the Sotheby’s auction in 2013, but then she was not satisfied with the amount received at the auction.

The news of the unusual strategy for selling paintings created a lot of rumors in the market, including the fact that it is planned to put up for sale the villa itself and 7 major works by Picasso from the collection. A number of experts expressed their opinion that such a strategy could lead to a drop in market prices. What kind of paintings will be put up for sale is not yet clearly defined. Ms. Picasso inherited about 10,000 Picasso pieces of art, including about 300 paintings.

Continuing the conversation about relationships within the family, Ms. Picasso said that she did not have a single photograph with her grandfather and she did not own any of his paintings until his death. Her father, Paulo, was the son of Picasso and his first wife Olga Khokhlova, a Russian ballerina. For a long time, Paulo worked as the personal driver of his father, receiving very little salary. Marina’s mother, Emilien, divorced her husband and fought alcoholism, while raising Marina and her brother Pablito. Alienation in the family was growing, which was facilitated by the suicide of Marina’s brother. He had to be buried on the voluntary donations of friends.

Pablo Picasso died without leaving a will, which caused a fierce struggle of all his heirs - the widow, children and grandchildren. Marina received a fifth of the estate, paintings and a villa.

“People say that I should value my inheritance,” says Ms. Picasso, “but I did not get it out of love.”

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru