Big vase with veiled women
(1951)
Medium
earthenware
Measurements
62.5 × 30.8 cm diameter
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1955
© Sucession Picasso/Copyright Agency
Gallery location
Late 19th & early 20th Century Paintings & Decorative Arts Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
This monumental vase is one of Picasso’s greatest achievements in the ceramic medium. It is number one in the small edition of twenty-five examples and was purchased directly from the Madoura Pottery by the NGV Adviser to the Felton Bequests’ Committee, not long after it was produced. The vase is a masterful example of Picasso’s genius at playing with two-dimensional line work over a three-dimensional form and illustrates his distinctive wit and humour. The four women are maenads, followers of Dionysius, the ancient Greek god of wine. According to ancient myth these maenads, identified by their wild cat pelts, wandered the hills at night in drug-induced frenzy and were frequently depicted on ancient Greek and south Italian vases. It has been suggested that the face of the maenad gazing out at the viewer represents Françoise Gilot, Picasso’s companion at the time.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Vallauris, France
Inscription
impressed in left side inside upper rim: MADOURA / (fire) / PLEIN / FEU EMPREINTE / ORIGINALE DE / PICASSO 1 (1 in a circle)
Accession Number
1551-D4
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited