Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Picasso's young muse makes a public appearance

Tom Peck
Tuesday 01 February 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments
(PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Marie-Thérèse was only 17 years old when, stepping off the Paris Metro one day in 1927, she was approached by a stranger and told: "I am Picasso! You and I are going to do great things together!"

Great, yes, but also controversial; she was rather young, and he was married. For the next four years the Parisian girl appeared in several of his works but only in coded form.

Then, in 1932, Picasso painted his muse in La Lecture, pictured. Now the portrait of the young woman who transformed both his life and his art will go on sale at Sotheby's in London next Tuesday, and is expected to fetch between £12m and £18m.

Also forming part of the sale are some of the 100 million individually painted sunflower seeds brought to Tate Modern by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei last year, to be exhibited in the museum's Turbine Hall. Access was restricted, owing to the dust given off as people frolicked among them.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in