Jacqueline Roque was Picasso’s second and last wife. He started having an affair with her when he was still in a relationship with Françoise Gilot. Picasso and Jacqueline met in 1953. After Françoise Gilot left him, Picasso’s first wife, Olga Khokhlova, died in 1955 and he was finally free to marry. Olga Khokhlova was always unwilling to grant Picasso a divorce. In 1961 Picasso married the beautiful Jacqueline. Picasso and Jacqueline were married from 1961 until his death in 1973. When they very first met, Jacqueline was in her late 20s and Picasso was in his early 70s.
Jacqueline has the reputation for being overly protective of Picasso from outsiders and his family. Picasso painted Jacqueline many times throughout their time together. She was his chief artistic subject during their time together until he died. Picasso painted more pictures of Jacqueline than any of his other muses/loves. He painted or drew more than 400 portraits of her. Jacqueline was alway jealous of Françoise Gilot.
–one of Picasso’s images of Jacqueline Roque entitled Jacqueline au Bandeau de Face (Grand Tete de Femme)
When Picasso died, Jacqueline barred his children by Françoise Gilot from attending the funeral. Picasso had a son from his marriage to Olga Khokhlova. So the two of them, Paulo Picasso and Jacqueline, were set to inherit Picasso’s vast estate holdings. Françoise Gilot contested this situation on behalf of her two children. She believed Picasso had been mentally ill when he made his last will. All reached a settlement with he establishment of Musée Picasso in Paris.
–image of Picasso and Jacqueline Roque in the 60s from http://www.pablo-ruiz-picasso.net
Jacqueline Roque Picasso committed suicide in 1986 via an automatic pistol. She lived 12 years without Picasso and suffered from alcoholism after her true love’s death.
—Picasso and Jacqueline, David Douglas Duncan, 1957, La Californie, Cannes, 50 x 60 cm, Museu Picasso, Barcelona. Gift of David Douglas Duncan, 2013 © David Douglas Duncan 2013
Hi Denise – I hadn’t realised he’d only been married twice – I guess it was his lovers etc … but this so interesting and to see the photos you’re adding in – thanks so much … cheers Hilary
Yes, Hilary, Picasso only had 2 marriages, but he didn’t let that stop him! He had at least 7 major lovers throughout his life. Hopefully, I will at least mention most of them in my posts!
Such a tragic end to her life.
https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/11/j-is-for-jyvaskyla-finland/
Yes, very sad. She was only 59 and she had a daughter and I think at least one grandchild from a previous marriage.
Love, tragedy. Sad. He must have been so charming, attracting much younger women, protective of him. Well, I’m sure he was, also his creative part, just as attractive.
Sad tortured artists; the cliche had to come from somewhere!