Malaga- Birthplace of Picasso
Malaga is situated in the Province of Andalucia, a coastal city that is blessed with sunshine for nearly every day of the year. Though it is one of Spain’s larger cities and a paradise for beach goers and sun bathers, the city has a rich heritage, which has given it two Moorish castles Castillo de Gibralfaro and Alcazaba, richly decorated structures dating back to the 14th Century.
It is also the place to sample the sweet but potent Malagan wine, which is locally made and can be found at any of the numerous taverns in the city.But Malaga is well known for another reason – as the birthplace of the world renowned and highly prolific artist, Pablo Picasso, who was born in the heart of the city at the Plaza de la Merced, and maintained a strong connection to the town throughout his life.
The Picasso Museum
Malaga seemed the natural choice for a museum dedicated to Picasso, who is honoured for seeding several artistic movements with his innovative vision and technique. The Museum can be found in the old city centre close to the actual place of his birth, at the 16th Century Palacio de Buenavista built in the traditional Andalucian style.
Benefactors
The works on permanent exhibit have been loaned or donated to the Picasso museum by living members of the Picasso family. Christine Ruiz-Picasso, the daughter in law of Pablo Picasso is the main benefactor, with her son Bernard (Pablo’s grandson), also having loaned a significant number of works to the Museum.
Exhibited within a series of twelve spaces, the Picasso Museum has upwards of 200 pieces of art on show, forming its permanent collection. Four other exhibition spaces have exhibitions of limited duration. The Museum brings art to the Spanish people with its other facilities, a library, meeting hall, a learning centre and a research and promotion centre.
Many of the works open for viewing had not been exhibited publicly before going on show at the Picasso Museum, having been gifted to members of the family or inherited by them. Their value is hard to estimate. Some of the works that had never before been seen by the public at the grand opening of the Museum were fabulous paintings such as Olga Kokhlova con Mantilla (1917) and Retrato de Paulo con Gorro Blanco (1923).
Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, a visit to the Picasso Museum will confirm Pablo Picasso’s status as a Spanish icon, who was influential internationally during his working life and continues to be so even after his death.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock Pixabay