It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
A Life of Picasso Volume III

A Life of Picasso Volume III

The Triumphant Years, 1917-1932

Summary

Drawing on exhaustive research from interviews and unpublished archival material, John Richardson has produced the long-awaited third volume of the definitive biography, full of original, groundbreaking new insights into Picasso's life and work. His lively and incisive analysis of the work meshes seamlessly with the rich and detailed narrative of this complex and sensual life.

The Triumphant Years reveals Picasso at the height of his powers, producing not only the costumes and sets for such Diaghilev Ballets Russes productions as Parade and Tricorne but some of his most important sculpture and paintings. These are tumultuous years, Picasso torn between marital respectability with Olga, the Russian ballerina who was his first wife, and the erotic passion of his mistress, Marie-Therese.

This extraordinary biography ends with the completion of a dramatic series of drawings of the crucifixion. From then on the horrors of war would replace any private horrors, leading ultimately to Picasso's masterpiece, Guernica.

Reviews

  • The latest instalment of the finest artistic biography ever written
    Waldemar Januszczak, Sunday Times

About the author

John Richardson

Learn More

More in this series

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more