As part of the cultural events organized by the “Dante Alighieri Association Culturelle” of Monaco on January 23rd 2008 at the “Théâtre des Variétés” the lecture hold by Valentina Moncada is focused on Picasso journey in Rome and on the Russian Ballets in Montecarlo. On this occasion it is presented the book Picasso in Rome 1917(Mon atelier de Via Margutta 53b).

Picasso, Cocteau and the Russian Ballets in Rome

Pablo Picasso arrived in Rome on February 17h 1917 with Jean Cocteau with the purpose to work at the first Cubist ballet of the history Parade. The company of “The Russian Ballets” went on stage with Parade in May 18th 1917 at the “Chatelet Theater” in Paris. They were both called by Sergej Diaghilev, the manager of the company that included also the Russian choreographer and dancer Léonide Massine and the dancer Olga Kokhlova. The Company at that time was involved in the second Italian tournée, starting from Rome in April. Picasso had the responsibility to project the scenic design and the stage costumes of the ballet while Jean Cocteau wrote the libretto. They both stayed at the Hotel de Russie and on February 23rd Picasso rented a studio at Via Margutta 53B from Giuseppe Patrizi, owner of the complex of Patrizi’s studios. In his atelier in via Margutta Picasso painted two huge masterpieces: L’Italienne, now at the E.G. Bührle collection in Zurigo, and the Arlequine et femme au collier at the Musée National d’Art Moderne of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. During his journey in Rome the artist interweaved relations with some of the most important exponents of the Futurism met at the Caffè Greco, as Giacomo Balla, Fortunato Depero, Enrico Prampolini, Francesco Cangiullo. Via Margutta was also the frame of a relationship between Picasso and Olga Kokhlova who got married in July 1918.

The event is organized by The “Association Culturelle ayant pour but la diffusion de la langue et de la culture italiennes Dante Alighieri”, in association with “Comite” of Monaco.

Check catalogue