UA Honors Donors of Limited-Edition Lithographs of Picasso Drawings

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A reception marking the gift of 15 lithographs of drawings by the 20th century’s greatest artist, Pablo Picasso, to the art and art history department and the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Gorgas Library.

The reception is in honor of the donors of the lithographs, Dr. Virginia Rembert Liles, professor emeritus of art and art history, and Raeford Liles.

The lithographs are hanging in the lobby of the second floor of Gorgas Library. The collection is called Mes Dessins d’Antibes Au Pont des Arts, Paris, 1958.

In late 1946, Picasso produced 16 works, Mes Dessins d’Antibes (My Drawings of Antibes), in a few, highly productive days during a stay at the Chateau Grimaldi in Antibes, France. This collection of limited-edition lithographs, which features Picasso’s incredible draftsmanship, was printed by Georges Salles, director of museums in France from 1945 to 1957 and a Picasso biographer. Raeford Liles acquired the lithographs while he lived in France.

“It seemed to us that this would be a wonderful teaching collection,” says Dr. Virginia Rembert Liles, who served as chair of the art department from 1981 to 1990. “We thought they would be an inspiration for students and wanted them to be as widely seen as possible by students and faculty. They certainly reveal the most creative aspects of the artist’s mind.”

The College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All-American Teams.