A new Picasso is about to come on the market. The painting is of Picasso's daughter by his mistress, Marie-Therese Walter. In the portrait, Maya is two and a half years old and is holding a boat. The painting was in Picasso's possession until his death in 1973. The piece is entitled "La Fille de l'artiste a deux ans et demi avec un bateau" (The artist's daughter at 2 1/2, with a boat). It was painted in 1938.
Art historian Werner Spies described the portrait as "the most impressive Picasso ever devoted to a single child".
Like many of his favourite portraits of family members, the piece remained in Picasso's personal collection for 35 years until his death in 1973. Following this, it has been in a private collection since the 1980s.
The painting has never been offered at auction before and the Sotheby's exhibition is its first public showing in London.
Emmanuel Di-Donna, Vice Chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide said: "This life-affirming portrait reflects the great joy that Maya brought into the artist's life, even on the eve of the Second World War."
This painting is part of a Sotheby's major sale of
Impressionist and Modern Art in New York which will take place on May 5. The painting is expected to sell for up to 16 million pounds sterling.
