Comments on the style saloniste: Chasing Pablo Picasso

Thank you sharing your tour of this gorgeous chate...

2009-08-11T18:57:22.112-07:00

Thank you sharing your tour of this gorgeous chateau with us! It's well worth a visit on it's own, but the Picasso legacy makes it all the more enticing.

It's so interesting to me that his grave is relatively unmarked, although I find that oddly comforting. I hate that, for many people, his name is synonymous with art they "don't get". It's too easy to forget about Picasso the person. Right now, the wall closest to me has a print from his "face of peace" series. Made me smile.

It was a great day for me. I went to the Chateau, ...

2009-08-06T16:15:06.056-07:00

It was a great day for me. I went to the Chateau, the Cezanne/Picasso exhibit and the Cezanne studio all in one day. For me, as a painter,and as the daughter of 2 artists that knew him well, it meant so very much.
Mougins did not give the permission to bury Picasso there at the villa, so his wife and oldest son took him under cloak and dagger silence, to Vauvenargues to be buried there. The bureaucrats there were more reasonable to the request and he was buried at the front of the Chateau after the ground had finally thawed after a freak snow storm in April.

Hello, Joni--and our lovely friends from Canada- ...

2009-07-31T14:39:59.303-07:00

Hello, Joni--and our lovely friends from Canada-

Imagine: I walked up the steep cobblestone road to Chateau de Vauvenargues, turn up the driveway, along the walls of the limestone ramparts, past the chapel, and then I turn left into the enclosed garden, with Mt. Sainte-Victoire rising up beyond pine trees. And there is the ivy-cloaked circular parterre where Picasso and Jacqueline are buried, with just a small bronze sculpture of an abstract figure with a banner flying. There is absolutely no marker. In fifty years, will anyone know that Picasso lies there in the ground? It's eerie--but serene and private. I did grapple with the thought of a grave at a residence (Catherine Hutin and her mother must have been given a permit from the authorities to do this.)
Yes, Picasso was superstitious about death. His creativity and voracious work were his assurance of immortality. In his lifetime, and especially is life as an artist, he created over 60.000 major works over around 65 years or so. He lived many lifetimes with many wives and talented women artists, dancers, soul-mates.
I had a sense of all this at the chateau. It's a vivid experience.

Fascinating tale! What an adventure. I think of ...

2009-07-31T14:25:21.310-07:00

Fascinating tale! What an adventure. I think of this - I remember reading that Picasso was terrified of dying. He just refused to admit he was going to go even in his 90s. So to read about his grave and know that alas, he did leave, makes me sad for him. What a legend and what a man.

The paintings of Pablo Picasso remain to be the so...

2009-07-31T04:23:44.643-07:00

The paintings of Pablo Picasso remain to be the sound inspiration or touching arts. I wish i could have one of those great works from him and put it at home. Thanks for sharing this topic buddy. From Condo Staging Toronto

Hello, Clarity Yes, the chateaux--and history of t...

2009-07-30T23:45:10.009-07:00

Hello, Clarity
Yes, the chateaux--and history of the region--are overshadowed by the Ile-de-France and history centered on Paris. Too bad. Just think, artists, popes, kings, emperors, feuds, religious wars and retributions and pillaging. And how-here is Picasso in his 13th century chateau--it was especially wonderful because it has never been written about, has never been the feature of a magazine story--let alone a blog! This may be the first blog about the Chateau de Vauvenargues.
Lynne-Thank you for your comment. You would have loved the interior, which today has a sense the Picasso is somewhere around (well, he is, but underground)...so much of the chateau suggested soldiers in the 13th century, barons and counts and nobles in later centuries, and then Picasso moved in with Jacqueline. At Versailles and other thrilling chateaux, there is little sense of life. They are museums. Vauvenargues is a private residence, lived in, superbly maintained. And to see Catherine Hutin's private Picasso paintings inherited from her mother was moving.It's a great lesson in seeing with 'beginner's mind'.

what a treat this blog is! and what a fabulous tou...

2009-07-30T16:17:28.904-07:00

what a treat this blog is! and what a fabulous tour. i wish that white room with the stucco fireplace was MY studio. (although who knows how long it would be before i jumped up there and started gilding stuff!) thanks for an excellent post

I've always been fascinated by the chateaus of...

2009-07-30T05:25:55.172-07:00

I've always been fascinated by the chateaus of Aix-en-Provence - now to find that Picasso painted in one of them is tempting... I wish I could go and spend the time meandering through his life. It seems dogmatic to call it fairytale-like but that is exactly what that setting is. Adventurous you! it was quite an achievement getting the ticket and I admire your tenacity.

oh i just took a short holiday in my mind.wonderf...

2009-07-26T16:09:29.714-07:00

oh i just took a short holiday in my mind.wonderful post, thanks for sharing

Loved the article!!!

2009-07-26T11:22:28.644-07:00

Loved the article!!!

Dear Vicki-You live in Provence and you know the s...

2009-07-26T09:43:04.253-07:00

Dear Vicki-You live in Provence and you know the seemingly impossible ticket situation--sold out.But if you persist and have determination and optimism, you can score a ticket.
I was incredibly fortunate. I hope you can do it--it is an adventure! Anyone who secures a ticket is lucky. Catherine Hutin agreed to open the chateau because of the Cezanne/Picasso show in Aix. Now, the portal will close. To see Picasso's grave...amazing.
Jennifer-thank you. Yes, once inside the chateau, the smell of ancient stone, dust, and a sense of its military past, the centuries of history, the artist's lair, was very powerful.
Little Augury: Thank you. I'm now reading 'Life with Picasso' by Francoise Gilot for a future post. I learned a lot about Jacqueline Roque, the last wife, in Aix and also in Vallauris, where he met her when her was creating pottery in the town. I was told that Jacqueline was very chic, spoke several languages, but always put Picasso first, the 'perfect artist's wife' but far from a doormat. To see his painting of her in the show (blue dress, in chair, on my post, never shown before) and balance his life, and see Picasso and Jacqueline without the misogyny that often clouds biographies of artists was a privilege.
Aix--I must tell you it is the most elegant city, with a strong sense of culture, architecture, history, and elegance. Loved it.

It seems Picasso had the most wonderful women orbi...

2009-07-26T08:21:17.441-07:00

It seems Picasso had the most wonderful women orbiting around him the great Sun, and a healthy domestic life of sorts-regardless of which woman. This is a loving look at that. Many thanks for the travels. la

What a glorious tour...and a glorious post! Of co...

2009-07-26T04:36:55.607-07:00

What a glorious tour...and a glorious post! Of course being able to visit the chateau in person would be wonderful, but your vivid descriptions make me feel as though I was standing right there next to you on the tour!

I have not been lucky yet Diane but am hoping that...

2009-07-26T04:18:56.261-07:00

I have not been lucky yet Diane but am hoping that I will make it there before the closure. What a wonderful visit you had and how fortunate that you managed to negotiate the system so brilliantly to see Vauvenargues. xv

Hello, Kitty and Hello, Pigtown- Loved hearing y...

2009-07-25T22:13:56.263-07:00

Hello, Kitty and Hello, Pigtown-

Loved hearing your quick responses.
The Chateau de Vauvenargues visit was a great adventure. The Picasso/Cezanne exhibit is superbly curated for utmost clarity.
I was so fortunate to see them both.
Cheers and happy days, DIANE

Thank you so much! This was like a mini-Art Histor...

2009-07-25T20:30:57.702-07:00

Thank you so much! This was like a mini-Art History lesson. Incredible.

Diane, I hope this doesn't turn up twice; I lo...

2009-07-25T17:17:28.069-07:00

Diane, I hope this doesn't turn up twice; I lost my connection while I was commenting. Anyway, the gist of it was to thank you for sharing your marvelous adventure at Picasso's place. Lucky you -- and lucky us! I love Picasso, and his work is still startling today. Excepting our technology, of course, his turbulent world is still very much like our own. There are so many facets and aspects of humanity, like a cubist painting. Peace, kitty.