Child With Dove

Years in the making, Myatt has utterly immersed himself in the life and mind of Picasso to interpret some of the most seminal works from the artist who redefined art as we know it.

Capturing his revolutionary spirit and masterful methods, Myatt has portrayed works from the distinct chapters of Picasso’s career, including his Blue, Rose, Cubist and Surrealist periods.

Each period is marked by significant stylistic and thematic shifts, creating a narrative that reflects the evolution of twentieth-century art. Myatt has devotedly sought to represent the works with the spirit Picasso would have originally intended, to honour the profound connection between Picasso’s life and work.

“There are just a few artists who are born with a level of skill that it takes others decades of hard work to achieve. Picasso was one of those. And when you can do anything in art, what do you do? You either turn out dazzling displays of technical virtuosity time and time again or challenge your own skills by seeking to redefine the very nature of art itself. That was what Picasso attempted and achieved.” – John Myatt

This artwork is based on Picasso's "In Child with a Dove", one of his earliest masterpieces, where Picasso showcases his nascent style at just twenty-one. Painted during his second visit to Paris while staying with Spanish friends, this work reflects his deep engagement with contemporary French art. Influenced by Toulouse-Lautrec's bold, swift brushwork and vivid color contrasts, Picasso developed a unique approach that melded rapid impression with emotional depth. From Degas, he absorbed the art of keen observation, lending a sharp, detached perspective to his figures. In this piece, we witness a burgeoning thoughtfulness and poetic empathy that would come to define his later oeuvre.

You can read more about the collection here or find out more about John Myatt here.