A lot related to Spanish abstract artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), including four vintage black and white photographs of Picasso taken by fellow British artist Edmond Xavier Kapp (1890-1978); along with a bonus oil on Masonite painting by Edmond Xavier Kapp. Provenance: The photographs of Picasso and the Kapp portrait came from the collection of Barbara Bibb, a well-known art restorer from Eynsham, England. Comes with auction house correspondence including a handwritten letter dated 2017.

The lot is comprised of:

1. Four vintage photographs showing Pablo Picasso with family members and friends taken on the French Riviera ca. June 1948. The four glossy black and white photographs were taken by Edmond Xavier Kapp. The two smallest photographs were printed on Gevaert and Velox photo paper. One of the photographs is pen-inscribed verso: "Souvenir/de Mme et Mr. Marcel / Hotel de la Mer / 26 Juin 1948. / Golfe Juan" ["Souvenir / from Mrs. and Mr. Marcel / Sea Hotel / 26 June 1948. / Golfe Juan."] The largest photograph shows some minor to moderate wrinkles and is flyspecked and slightly discolored verso. Two of the photographs have small pinholes along the top, else very good to near fine. The smallest photograph measures 3.25" x 2.375" while the largest one measures 4.5" x 6.25."

The photographs show Pablo Picasso with various unidentified family and friends, possibly including his partner Françoise Gilet (born 1921) (the woman with her hair braided at the crown) as well as Pablo and Françoise's son Claude (born 1947) (the baby). The photos date from ca. 1948, the same year that Pablo Picasso moved to Vallauris, France; the artist would remain there until 1955. The beach and bathing suit scenes were taken in and around Golfe Juan, a Provençal town located about halfway between Cannes and Antibes, France.

2. An oil on Masonite painting attributed to Edmond Xavier Kapp. There is no visible signature but the painting board is pencil inscribed verso under Kapp's biographical description as: "A great personal friend of Picasso and the only artist that Picasso sat for." Framed, not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the painting is 9.25" x 11.375" while the overall frame size is 11.375" x 13.375" x .875."

The portrait depicts an unidentified bearded man in a red-buttoned tunic wearing a blue beret. The subject is seated in a Victorian chair against an ocher-colored backdrop decorated with fleur-de-lys. A small area of repair is possibly located near the subject's right collar, else near fine and well-executed. The juxtaposition of primary colors found in this portrait recalls the striking color palettes of other early abstract artists.

Edmond Xavier Kapp, though better known for his caricatures and wartime drawings, did indeed paint a portrait of Pablo Picasso in Paris, France in 1938. The Chinese ink drawing on paper showing Pablo Picasso's profile is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum; a later lithograph after this portrait can be found in the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

Provenance

The lot is accompanied by an autograph letter presumably signed by Barbara Bibb, dated February 5, 2017, and sent from her studio in Eynsham, England. Barbara Bibb's company undertakes "all aspects of painting restoration, conservation and retouching…picture frames restored including gilded," according to her website.

Also includes auction paperwork from March 2018 exchanged between a buyer and Dominic Winter Auctions (Gloucestershire, England) discussing the provenance of the Picasso photos and "one or two other paintings or drawings by Kapp." The "woman picture restorer of advanced years" described by the auction house director is presumed to be Barbara Bibb. Bibb had acquired the items from "a single source…related directly to the artist's [Kapp's] family."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!