Picasso Museums
It recently came to my attention that the Musée Picasso in Paris is closed for renovations until sometime in 2012. What’s a Picasso lover to do? Plenty. Because an artist as prolific as Pablo Picasso needs more than one museum to show his work. It seems that Picasso Museums are scattered all over Europe – though mostly in France and Spain. From his birthplace in Málaga to the French capital of Paris, wherever the artist painted, sculpted or glazed ceramics now has its own Picasso Museum, creating a whole new genre of “Picasso Tourism.” Here are five Picasso museums worth visiting.
Musée Picasso, Antibes, France
The Côte d’Azur city of Antibes has the distinction of being the first city to open a museum dedicated to Picasso, having beaten out both Málaga and Paris. They did not take this decision lightly, as they chose for the museum site the Château Grimaldi, a beautiful building enjoying both a wonderful location on the city’s ancient coastal ramparts and an important place in the city’s history. Belonging to the Grimaldi family since 1608, the Château was home to Picasso for six months in 1946. Much of the 245 works of art at the Musée Picasso was given to the museum by Picasso himself, with some extra exhibits were provided in 1990 by his second wife, Jacqueline Picasso. Here you can see such iconic works as “The Goat” and “La Joie de Vivre” and many other drawings, paintings, etchings and ceramics. When it’s time to bed down for the night, most of Antibes’s hotels are in the newer part of the city, but if you want to remain within the ancient city walls, you can stay at the Pierre et Vacances Antibes, which is only several blocks from the museum.
Musée National Picasso La Guerre et La Paix, Vallauris, France
Just 15 minutes from Antibes, nestled in a valley just inland from Golfe Juan is the sleepy village of Vallauris. Strolling through the tiny town square and gazing at the handful of shops, restaurants and bakeries, you may be surprised to learn that Pablo Picasso lived here from 1948 until 1955 and that one of his greatest works of art is only metres away. He also returned in 1961 to secretly marry Jacqueline in the town hall. The artist came here to learn how to make pottery, something the town has always been famous for. And the museum is full of them. But the main attraction in Vallauris is the nearby Chapel of Peace, where decided to decorate a small 12th-century chapel with a mural entitled War and Peace, which takes up the entire interior. Walking through the tunnel-like work of art is quite an experience. The closest hotels to Vallauris that are still on the water can be found in Golfe Juan.
Museu Picasso, Barcelona, Spain
Much earlier, in 1894, a 13 year-old Picasso arrived in Barcelona with his family. This is where the young artist completed his first major works, such as The First Communion (1896), and Science and Charity (1897), both of which are at the museum. In fact, the Museu Picasso has one of the most extensive Picasso collections on the planet. Even if Picasso isn’t your favorite artist, the five adjoining medieval palaces that make up the museum are worth seeing. Since opening in 1963 with 574 works, the museum has greatly expanded its collection and now includes over 3,500 pieces in its permanent collection alone, including school books, academic pieces and paintings from Picasso’s early Blue Period. Located in the neighborhood of La Ribera, the museum is close to many excellent Barcelona hotels.
Museo Picasso Málaga and the Museo Casa Natal, Málaga, Spain
As Picasso’s birthplace, Málaga has the distinction of being the only city to host two Pablo Picasso Museums, the Museo Picasso Málaga and the Museo Casa Natal. Though the Museo Picasso Málaga didn’t open until 2003, the idea of it began in 1953. The grand opening drew such luminaries as the King and Queen of Spain, and the museum has an impressive collection, much of which was donated by members of Picasso’s family. The collection ranges from early academic studies to cubism his late re-workings of Masters, and there’s also a library and archive including over 800 titles on Picasso, along with many interesting photographs. The museum is housed in the 16th century Palacio de Buenavista, which was built on the site of a Moorish Nasrid Palace, some of which can still be seen, making the museum a unique historical experience as well.
The Museo Casa Natal, literally “Birthplace Museum” also houses the Fundación Picasso. Set on the Plaza de la Merced, the Foundation is set up to promote the work of the artist – which seems like a pretty easy job. In addition to the Museo Casa Natal, facility includes a Picasso documentation center and many art collections. Of course Picasso’s work is well-represented and includes paintings, drawings and sculptures. But the museum also highlights the work of many other artists, including Pablo Palazuelo, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, Christo, Francis Bacon, Max Ernst, Jaume Plensa, and many local artists as well. Málaga offers a wide variety of accommodations near both museums and near the city’s many other attractions and landmarks.
