Media Release
LOUVRE ABU DHABI TO UNVEIL UNSEEN PICASSO PORTRAIT
FROM MUSEUM’S PERMANENT COLLECTION
‘Portrait of a Lady’ to be showcased in Birth of a Museum exhibition as part
of the significant acquisitions
Abu Dhabi, 4 March 2013 - Pablo Picasso’s never before
exhibited work, Portrait of a Lady is one of the art works in
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s permanent collection and included in the
Birth of a Museum exhibition (22 April– 20 July, 2013).
Recognised as the most legendary artist of the 20th century,
Picasso contributed greatly to the construction of modern art
with his unique fusion of representational art and experimenting
between techniques and materials, utilising almost anything
found around him.
A practically unknown work, Portrait of a Lady has never been
exhibited before, and only mentioned in A Life of Picasso: The
Triumphant Years, 1917-1932 written by John Richardson in
2007.
The papier collé, a type of collage using glued paper cut-outs
Caption:
Pablo Ruiz Picasso
is, according to the hypothesis of Richardson, a portrait of
(Málaga, 1881–Mougins, 1973)
famous
Portrait of a Lady, 1928
granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and wife of the
© Succession Picasso 2013
couturier Lucien Lelong. A renowned model in her day, she
Gouache, ink, and collage on paper
was well-connected in fashionable Parisian circles. Picasso
LAD 2012-115 © Louvre Abu Dhabi
Agence Photo F
socialite
and
fashion
muse
Natalie
Paley,
may have used photographs as a source, as he did for many
*Clearance is required for use of
other portraits, to capture her oval face, fine features, and slim
this image. Contact details below.
silhouette.
Almost 130 artworks some of which have never been seen or revealed before will be shown in
Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural District’s art and exhibition centre, and will give visitors
insight into the museum’s narrative and collection ahead of its opening in 2015.
Born of an agreement between the governments of Abu Dhabi and France, Louvre Abu Dhabi
will display art, manuscripts and objects of historical, cultural and sociological significance. The
museum and its growing permanent collection is owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Spanning millennia, the items on display will originate from societies and cultures all over the
world, but universal themes and common influences will be highlighted to illustrate similarities
arising from shared human experience transcending geography, nationality and history.
As with all exhibitions organised in preparation for the museums in the Saadiyat Cultural District,
it will be supported by a diverse Cultural Programme of talks, tours and workshops and a book
detailing a significant part of the collection acquired to date will also be published and launched
in April.
The first talk which will take place on 22 April at Manarat Al Saadiyat, entitled Louvre Abu
Dhabi, a Museum in the Making features Hissa Al Dhaheri, Project Manager of Louvre Abu
Dhabi, TCA Abu Dhabi and Laurence des Cars, Curatorial Director of the Agence FranceMuséums, providing audiences an insight into the singular and original rereading of the history
of artistic creation which will make Louvre Abu Dhabi unique. This will be followed by two others
in May and June, which form part of the second Louvre Talking Art Series.
The general curator of the exhibition is Laurence des Cars, Curatorial Director of Agence
France-Muséums (AFM), who is supported by a TCA Abu Dhabi and AFM team of diversified
skill sets. Museography is done by architect Jean-François Bodin. Construction of the iconic
building designed by Jean Nouvel has begun on Saadiyat Island and the Museography design
is in progress.
For further information and details of the Louvre Abu Dhabi:

‘like’ us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saadiyat-CulturalDistrict/294905230524145

‘follow’ us on Twitter http://twitter.com/SaadiyatCD: @TCA_AbuDhabi and
#LouvreAbuDhabi and #Manara

visit http://www.saadiyatculturaldistrict.ae/en/saadiyat-cultural-district/louvre-abu-dhabi
-End-
PRESS CONTACTS
TCA Abu Dhabi Contact:
Mitra Birgani
Media Coordinator
mbirgani@tdic.ae
NOTES TO EDITORS
Guidelines for use of Picasso image:
“Portrait of a Lady, 1928” can be used by press for articles on the Louvre Abu Dhabi exhibition “Birth of a Museum”,
until July 20th 2013.
The reproduction of works by Pablo Picasso is not free of charge: however, could be exempt for reproductions when
the size will be less than a quarter of the page only for the articles that report the exhibition and during the
period of the exhibition until 20th July 2013.
The above caption must be used and works must be reproduced as faithfully to the original as possible:
- Colours must not be changed
- Works must be reproduced in their entirety
- This means that we do not authorize cropping out nor reframing.
- Superimposing details of the work, a text or a logo on the work is also forbidden.
For all other exploitations, people must contact:
PICASSO ADMINISTRATION
8 rue Volney
75002 Paris
Tel: 01 47 03 69 70 Fax: 01 47 03 69 60
Contact: Christine Pinault / cpinault@picasso.fr
About Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi)
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and
leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction, which enriches the lives of
visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination
internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and
programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites
and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
TCA Abu Dhabi supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment
and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through
close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.