Picasso is arguably the greatest artist of the 20th century, because of his technical prowess, his abundant work and his commitments. With an academic background and a strong taste for classical beauty, his work legitimizes and imposes him upon his peers. Passionate about Antiquity and the Renaissance, he masters traditional codes, which he twists, stretches, appropriates and universalizes throughout his work. His legacy is that of a timeless artist, assertive but untameable.

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"Braque once said to me: 'In fact, you have always loved classical beauty.' It's true. Even today, it is still true. You don't invent a new type of beauty every year."

- Picasse to Renato Guttuso, 1964.