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Pablo Ruiz Picasso is probably the most important figure in 20th Century Art. No painter before him had ever had a mass audience in his own lifetime. There was not one 20th Century movement that he did not inspire.

He was admitted to the advanced classes at the Royal Academy of Art in Barcelona at the age of 15. He spent a lot of his time in Paris between 1904 and 1947, whereupon he moved to the South of France.

In his "blue period" (1901 - 1904) he depicted the world of poverty. Mainly in tones of blue these sombre paintings are among the most popular art works of the 20th Century.

In his "rose period" (1905 -1906) he used a lighter colour palette and his pictures were more lively, his subjects often drawn from circus life. He began his work in sculpture during these years.

Picasso was influenced greatly by Cezanne and African sculpture. His cubist works established firmly that art may exist as an object in its own right, beyond any attempts to portray reality. Also during this period he experimented with collage paper colle.

Later in his life he became more focused on creations of fantasy and comedy. He worked in sculpture, ceramics, graphics - producing thousands of brilliant drawings, illustrations and stage designs.

Picasso remains outstanding among the masters of the ages.