Pablo Picasso in the Collection of Charles and Marie-Laure De Noailles

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Pablo Picasso in the collection of Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles by Marlène Pegliasco Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles are a couple of patrons active in the artistic life of the first half of the 20th century. The villa they had built on the heights of Hyères, in the Var, by the minimalist architect Robert Mallet-Stevens symbolizes audacity and open-mindedness towards modernism. Many writers and artists, such as Jean Cocteau, Luis Bunuel, Salvador Dali will be invited. Today, the Villa Noailles has become an Art Centre recognised as being of national interest, and every year it hosts exhibitions and festivals where the patronage of its illustrious owners continues to be perpetuated. This summer, as part of the Picasso Méditerranée event, the art centre is offering an illuminating exhibition on the place of the Catalan master in the Noailles collection. It was Jean Cocteau, a writer who accompanied the Spanish artist on his trip to Rome, and friend of Marie-Laure de Noailles (1902-1970), who spoke of this prodigy. In 1923, the couple acquired the House in the Trees, a 1929 painting that became the first purchase of a modern work by Charles de Noailles for his young wife, who was then bedridden. Measuring 11 cm by 15 cm, he is probably the "smallest Picasso in the world". After attempts to commission a portrait of the viscountess - which will never be completed - the Noailles will settle for buying some of her works. Thus, in Paris as in Hyères, they hang paintings and drawings, and own at least fifteen works by the painter. In 1928, they spent 175,000 francs on a Still Life made with sand in Juan-les-Pins in 1925 - a record sum for a work in their collection. The painting will be hung in their Parisian living room arranged by the decorator Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941). These two paintings can be seen in the pink - intimate - salon of the Villa Noailles, at the heart of the permanent exhibition Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, a life of patrons. The public will also be able to see an ornate letter from Picasso to the poet Max Jacob, a set of archives from the Picasso Museum, invitations, telegrams and the Countess' scrapbooks from the private collection of the Art Centre. An enlightening exhibition on the private and little-known relationship between patrons and Pablo Picasso within the modern artistic life of the previous century. Until 30 September 2018 Picasso/Noailles: Trajectories Villa Noailles Ascent of Noailles 83400 Hyères More information here On the Picasso - Mediterranean event, here 08 Aug 2018 #Hyères #Picasso #Villa Noailles

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