Pablo Picasso, La danseuse Sada Yacco, 1900-1901 on show at Ward Moretti.
Courtesy Ward Moretti © Succession Picasso, DACS, London 2023
The show comprises 32 works by the Spanish artist and is held on the 50th anniversary of his death. Opening in London to coincide with Frieze Week, it now travels to the newly opened Moretti Paris alongside Paris + par Art Basel (October 16-25) and then to New York (November 6-18).
Built up over 25 years, the collection was pieced together by Dutch couple Pieter and Olga Dreesmann working with dealer James Roundell.
Roundell left his previous firm, Dickinson, a year ago. Emma Ward also left Dickinson and set up Ward Moretti with Fabrizio Moretti in Duke Street, St James’s. Roundell works as a consultant for the firm.
This show, which features a collection valued at more than $40m, is among the first at the new business.
Drawings are at the heart of the collection. A 1905 drawing of Carles Casagemas, a 1915 watercolour Guitare sur une table and a 1929 pen-and-ink drawing Baigneuse au ballon are among the highlights.
There are also several three-dimensional objects including a 1905 bronze Tête d’arlequin and a selection of ceramics. Individual works range in price from $12,500-3.5m. Ward dubs it a “high calibre, scholarly collection” built up with the aid of her colleague’s “insight”. The show is accompanied by a publication written by Dr Marilyn McCully.
For the Dreesmans it is time to “begin a new chapter in our lives as collectors”.
This is not the first time the couple have brought a major collection to the market. In 2012, they offered a selection of Old Master pictures at Christie’s London, which took a total of £85m including fees.
