Picasso: His Life and Work

by Roland Penrose

"Intimate, yet objective; comprehensive, yet enthralling; this biography of the greatest artists of our century will rank with Vasari in the annals of European painting."—Sir Herbert Read

Genres: Art, Biography, Nonfiction

550 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1971

About the author

Sir Roland Algernon Penrose CBE (14 October 1900 – 23 April 1984) was an English artist, historian and poet.

He was a major promoter and collector of modern art and an associate of the surrealists in the United Kingdom. During the Second World War he put his artistic skills to practical use as a teacher of camouflage.

Penrose married the poet Valentine Boué and then the photographer Lee Miller. He is the uncle of the physicist and polymath Roger Penrose, and the chess grandmaster, Jonathan Penrose.

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and researched. The author had direct contact with Picasso, family, and friends. Mostly good narrative and commentary that I found consistent with other biographies. Written in a positive manner regarding Picasso's life and art. If you want to believe that Picasso's life and art were flawless, you will enjoy this.

This book might be best for someone already well read up on Picasso. Not so much for a curious, first time reader. The plates are numerous, but very small and in black and white. Not very helpful, but better than nothing.

[Ami Bouhassane · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the artist himself has indorced the book twice indedications and also by designing the cover for the first french edition (the original is in The Penrose Collection) this is a must read. I also have the unique position of being familiar with the copious notes that Roland wrote (long hand) for the book as well as the photographs Lee Miller took on their visits too Picasso so it has a lot of real references for me.

[Susu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step by step biography including heaps of details - something for Picasso-Aficionados