PICASSO THEATRE

First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed with an original drawing by David Hockney. Publisher's original cream cloth with gilt titles to the spine and gilt illustration to the front board, with the illustrated dustwrapper designed by Picasso. 447 illustrations, with 68 plates in full colour. A fine copy, the binding firm and square, with a little bumping and rubbing to the spine ends and a few tiny spots to the cloth on the rear panel. The contents are clean throughout and free from inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the fine dustwrapper, that has a spot of residue to the inside front flap (from a sticker), and is otherwise free from fading, loss or tears. A magnificent presentation and association copy.

Inscribed in pencil by David Hockney on the front endpaper "for Jonathan / love / David H / Dec 23rd 1993" underneath which Hockney has incorporated an original drawing of Salts Mill in Saltaire, Bradford. The recipient is Hockney's close friend Jonathan Silver, a menswear, antiques and art entrepreneur, who in 1987 bought the then derelict former cloth factory, Salts Mill and over the next ten years transformed it into a space of enterprise, art and culture that now houses the largest collection of David Hockney's art, in the world. Seemingly a Christmas gift, the book is an extensive overview of Picasso's passion for theatre and the work it influenced, collating paintings, drawings, watercolours, lithographs and photographs from public and private collections in 10 countries, as well as from Picasso himself. Featuring text by Douglas Cooper and previously unpublished letters and interviews. Picasso was an early influence on David Hockney and the subject of several artworks and essays. To Hockney's regret, he and Picasso never met. But after the Spaniard's death in 1973, Hockney came to know and work with Aldo Crommelynck, Picasso's printer for a quarter century.