If you were going to write down a list of the most influential artists of all time, Pablo Picasso would certainly be within the top 10. Picasso is considered the father of the cubist and abstract movement, creating pieces that were revolutionary for their time. Although Picasso was Spanish, he spent much of his life in France. His French home is now up for sale, so you can own a piece of cultural history.
- Price: $20.2 million
- Location: Mougin, France
- Square Footage: 13,000 sq. ft.
- Lot Size: 8 acres
- Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 15 Bed, 12 Bath
- Unique Features: Professional-grade kitchen, wine cellar for up to 5000 bottles, garden room, mountaintop scenery, guest house, caretaker’s house, pool house, steam room
All photos are used with permission from TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
What We Like Most About This Property
There are few places on earth as elegant and refined as the French Riviera. Pristine views, a temperate climate, and properties that could make a king blush. Such is the setting for this gorgeous mansion, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. The property itself has a long and storied history – it was once called the Mas de Notre Dame de Vie and was owned by the Guinness family (yes, that Guinness family). Celebrities and luminaries of all walks of life have set foot on these grounds, including WW2 prime minister Winston Churchill. So, it was fitting that an artist of such esteem as Pablo Picasso found refuge here as well.
Since the home was renovated in the mid-2000s, it has a much more modern look than you might think. In fact, after Picasso died in 1973, his wife didn’t touch anything to preserve his memory. Then, when she died in 1986, the property was abandoned for almost 30 years. A Dutch investor bought it and spruced it up so it could recapture its former glory.
The pool, the antique framework, and the studio spaces are particular highlights of the mansion. We also appreciate the minimalist style, a blend of both Picasso and modern aesthetics. No matter who you are, you’ll feel like royalty when walking through the open floor plan. Plus, since the house is on a hill, you can sit outside and take in the glorious beauty of nature all year round.
An Abstract Life – A Portrait of Pablo Picasso
When most people imagine Pablo Picasso, they picture an elderly bald man who liked to paint cubist portraits. However, the Spanish artist had quite a life before he turned to the abstract. In fact, Picasso’s work is separated into periods. His Blue Period adhered to standard artistic conventions of the time, although he dabbled in some experimental elements as well. The period is so named because of his affinity for blue and green color palettes.
Next came the Rose Period, where Picasso started to add a splash of warmer hues, like red and orange, into his paintings. These two periods only reflected five years of his life, further illustrating how influential he was at the time. In 1907, Picasso started to experiment with African Primitivism, where the early cubist style began to take shape. Within two years, he moved into cubism entirely, although he was more analytical at first. His main cubist period lasted from 1912-1919.
During World War 2, Picasso had to pause his artwork, as he was living in France at the time, and cubism didn’t fit the Nazi aesthetic. Still, he had plenty to say about fascism, which showed up in much of artwork both before and after the war. By the time Picasso bought the French home in 1961, he was recreating works of the old primarys by incorporating his style. He was an avid painter and sculptor until his death, and his work continues to inspire people worldwide.
Source: www.r365.nl
