It’s not just Picasso, but his lovers seem to generate just enough interest in the art circle. Christie’s London paintings of the famed modern artist’s portraits depicting his love interests at the Impressionist and Modern Art auctions in London. Starting proceeding was the “Jeane fille endormie“, painted around his mistress, Marie-Therese Walter, which fetched £13.5 million ($21.9 million). Then there was the “Femme assise, robe bleue” painted with his lover Dora Maar as an inspiration. The painting sold for a whopping £18 million ($28.8 million). However, the lot’s prize was “Bust de Francoise,” showing Picasso’s lover Francoise Gillot.
The “oil-on-board” painting was first acquired from Picasso’s daughter, Maya Widmaier-Picasso, in 1997. In total, the portraits earned a staggering £42.2 million ($68.5 million). All the art was originally owned by the estate of the Swiss art dealer Ernst Beyeler, who passed away last year. The paintings were successfully bid by Swiss-based Greek collector Dimitri Mavrommatis over the telephone.
