Richardson, John

"Insightful and opinionated, erudite and amusing, this collection by the author of A Life of Picasso is a marvelously eclectic mix of essays on artists and writers, tastemakers and tycoons. These pieces, each illustrated with a photograph or artwork, were selected by the author because they are about people he has known or would like to have known - or simply because their subjects' genius or quirkiness particularly intrigued him."--BOOK JACKET.

Pablo Picasso met Marie-Therese Walter in Paris in 1927 when she was 17 and he 45 and married to the Russian ballet dancer Olga Koklova, whom he eventually left for the younger woman. This catalogue examines Picasso's endless fascination with his lover's character and form, which led to some of the artist's most popular works.--

Briefly examines the life and work of the renowned twentieth-century artist, describing and giving examples from his various periods or styles.

A sorcerer's young apprentice attempts to practice magic in his master's absence, with disastrous results.

The author introduces material on the artist's early training in religious art, and establishes his passion for Barcelona and Catalan "modernisme". There are also portraits of Apollinaire, Max Jacob and Gertrude Stein who made up "The Picasso Gang". The book won the 1991 Whitbread biography award.