I discovered this remarkable work in an auction of Madrid March 28 1990 and published it in Goya magazine (n.221, 1991). It is quoted in my article of the blog "A Reappraisal..." because is one of the paintings exhibited at the Yoshii Gallery New York April 1996 and reproduced and studied by Palau in the introduction to the catalogue published by the gallery. (Figs. 1,2). This formidable text was originally written in catalan and translated to english. Unfortunately is practicalyh ignored by the doctrine and probably never read by Claude R. Picasso. the powerful head of the Picasso Administration of Paris. When I revise this entry in June 2019 I can doubt if the director of the Picasso Museu of Barcelona Emmanuel Guigon has paid any attention to this important addition to the oeuvre of Palau. Poor Palau.
F.1 det. Gypsy Boy seated (Private coll. Madrid)
After his certification (F. 4), Palau included the newly discovered work by Picasso in the exhibition "Picasso a Catalunya" organized by the Caixa de Girona in conmemoration of the centennial of Picasso`s arrival in Catalonia (Girona, November 1995 n.18 of the catalogue). In the text of the catalogue Palau reveals, quoting Genevieve Laporte memoirs (Si tard le soir p.44) that Picasso and Pallarés were accompanied by a third friend in their excursion to the mountains near Horta in 1898. Was this third man the litle gypsy boy that Picasso painted ? What was he like? (Yoshii Cat. p. 68). Palau continues in page 69: "We know two paintings, Gypsy Boy Seated and Man standing seen from behind, that can be dated at that time. They are academic studies , but using a new languaje , that no longer wished to be academic..." The new languaje is clearly demostrated in the details of the hands and the quick resolution of the hat.(Figs 5,6) I add the photo of the certificate of autenticity issued by the daughter of the artist Maya Picasso on 22 November 1996. (F. 7). I wrote two articles in the best art history magazines of Spain GOYA and Archivo Español de Arte. The Gypsy Boy is probably the ancestor to the Arlequin . In the book Picasso Creator and Destroyer 1988, Arianna Stassinopoulos described the relation between Picasso and the gypsy in the summer 1898 at Horta as a burning friendship.The author of this book received the information about the remarkable Pablo´s gypsy friend from Francoise Gilot. The picture was offered for sale at Sothebys, London, February 6, 2001 in a catalogue with four pages of text and illustrationsi.The bids did not reach the estimated minimun price of 249,000 Euros and I decided to bring it back to Spain. A postsale bid was received and I decided to sell it for theta reduced sum to a good friend who keeps it at his home in Madrid. But it should be instead in a museum.
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| Figs.5,6 Details of G.B. from a video |
