In the 1950’s and 1960’s Picasso initiated a collaboration with renowned goldsmith François Victor-Hugo. Together, they created a series of medallions all in gold. Pablo Picasso Taureau (Bull), 1956 is one of the finest works to come from this partnership. Intricately formed lines combine to depict the portrait of a bull. This image is a wonderful adaptation of Picasso’s ceramic work Tete de taureau (Bull’s head), 1956 which features a similar portrait of a bull. Much to Hugo’s dismay, Picasso initially refused to sell these works for profit and instead kept them as private treasures. However Picasso gave in to Hugo’s persistence and in 1967and authorized Hugo to make a small, 'numbered edition’ of each for sale. They were not sold publicly but rather dispatched to their respective buyers and so they attracted almost no publicity, making them quite rare.

Created in 1956, this gold medallion is stamped with the artist's signature and numbered 'Picasso 14/20 1413' on verso; and stamped with the goldsmith's mark and a French mark on verso. Numbered from the edition of 20 on verso, this work was executed by François Victor-Hugo.

Provenance:

1. Private collection, New Orleans, acquired in Paris in the early 1980s.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Pablo Picasso Taureau (Bull), 1956 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work).

1. C. Siaud & P. Hugo, Bijoux d'artistes Hommage à François Hugo, Aix-en-Provence, 2001. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonnonné no.1413.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity issued by goldsmith Pierre Hugo will accompany this work.

3. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:

Pablo Picasso Taureau (Bull), 1956 is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in a complimentary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.