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Lump : The Dog who ate a Picasso /anglais
A charming, original and uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso and his beloved dachshund, Lump
One spring morning in 1957, veteran photojournalist David Douglas Duncan paid a visit to his friend and frequent photographic subject Pablo Picasso, at the artist's home near Cannes. As a co-pilot alongside Duncan in his Mercedes Gullwing 300 SL was the photographer's pet dachsund, Lump. Photographer and dog were close companions, but Duncan's nomadic lifestyle and his other dog - a giant jealous Afghan hound who had tormented Lump - made their life in Rome difficult. When they arrived at Picasso's Villa La Californie that historic day, Lump decided that he had found paradise on earth, and that he would move in with Picasso, whether the artist welcomed him or not.
This is the background for a totally original book that offers an uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso. Lump was immortalized in a Picasso portrait painted on a plate the day they met, but that was just the beginning. In a suite of forty-five paintings reinterpreting Velasquez’s masterpiece ‘Las Meninas�, Picasso replaced the impassive hound in the foreground with jaunty renderings of Lump.
Today, as a gift from the artist to his hometown as a youth, all of those historic canvases are now the centerpiece exhibition in the Picasso Museum of Barcelona. Fourteen of the paintings are reproduced here in full colour, juxtaposed with Duncan’s dramatic and intimate black-and-white photographs of Picasso and Lump, bringing full circle the odyssey of a lucky dachshund who found his way to becoming a furry, super-stretched icon of modern art.
One spring morning in 1957, veteran photojournalist David Douglas Duncan paid a visit to his friend and frequent photographic subject Pablo Picasso, at the artist's home near Cannes. As a co-pilot alongside Duncan in his Mercedes Gullwing 300 SL was the photographer's pet dachsund, Lump. Photographer and dog were close companions, but Duncan's nomadic lifestyle and his other dog - a giant jealous Afghan hound who had tormented Lump - made their life in Rome difficult. When they arrived at Picasso's Villa La Californie that historic day, Lump decided that he had found paradise on earth, and that he would move in with Picasso, whether the artist welcomed him or not.
This is the background for a totally original book that offers an uncommonly sensitive portrait of Picasso. Lump was immortalized in a Picasso portrait painted on a plate the day they met, but that was just the beginning. In a suite of forty-five paintings reinterpreting Velasquez’s masterpiece ‘Las Meninas�, Picasso replaced the impassive hound in the foreground with jaunty renderings of Lump.
Today, as a gift from the artist to his hometown as a youth, all of those historic canvases are now the centerpiece exhibition in the Picasso Museum of Barcelona. Fourteen of the paintings are reproduced here in full colour, juxtaposed with Duncan’s dramatic and intimate black-and-white photographs of Picasso and Lump, bringing full circle the odyssey of a lucky dachshund who found his way to becoming a furry, super-stretched icon of modern art.
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First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 17, 2013
This is a love story, and it is graphic, and there is also some sex.
This is also a beautiful book and it is to be read while sipping something such as a “tisane� (and evoke memories), or a coffee, or a glass of wine, or may be even some Scotch.
Lump, the protagonist, accompanied by his caretaker and documentarian David Douglas Duncan, visits Picasso and Jacqueline in their beautiful house, La Californie, in Cannes.
The documentarian takes photos and photos, all in black and white, with his Leica, and witnesses the growth of love between Lump and Picasso, and also between Lump and Jacqueline.
Lump is also a witness to the love between Picasso and Jacqueline.
This is in 1956-57.
Documentation is also left of Lump’s marriage to Lolita (what a literary suggestive name). Picasso acted as the mamporrero as we say in Spanish. Lolita arrives in what could be taken as a limousine, and beautifully attired with some lace round her neck ready for her nuptials. As she was also, like Lump, a Dachshund, they were expected to produce pure breeds. But .
The poignant moment in the drama is when Picasso, the host, offered the cardboard Rabbit to Lump:
And
In proof of his love for Lump, Picasso offered him this:
And since Picasso was very aware of posterity, he immortalized Lump in his version of the other immortal painting, Veláquez’s Las Meninas.
In honor to them both, the book closes with this Amigos Forever, which they have both remained since 1973:
P.S.: For the sex scene between Lolita and Lump, you would have to buy the book.
April 8, 2022
4 stars
A short novella about Pablo Picasso, his paramour, Jacqueline, and his beloved Dachshund, Lump. A love story told mostly in titled pictures, which also highlights a number of his later paintings.
A short novella about Pablo Picasso, his paramour, Jacqueline, and his beloved Dachshund, Lump. A love story told mostly in titled pictures, which also highlights a number of his later paintings.
February 27, 2008
Yes, Pablo Picasso had a dachshund named Lump. The intimate photography that makes the bulk of this book is as much a testament to the humanity of Picasso as it is to the profound relationship between ourselves and our animal friends.
October 25, 2018
I purchased this adorable picture book from the Picasso Museum of Barcelona after viewing Picasso's 'Las Meninas' paintings. The white silhouette of a dog seemed conspicuously present in this series of 20 or so paintings. Curiosity lead me to David Douglas Duncan's book; in it he shares photographs of his friend Picasso, and the little dachshund who joined the Picasso menagerie at Villa La Californie. A kind-hearted portrait of Picasso and his ever-present pooch is unveiled.
May 4, 2021
I won this book as part of a silent auction fundraiser for Getalong Dachshund Rescue. My gently used copy is absolutely beautiful and I read it in one sitting with our dachshund Snoppy here in bed with me and doxie-mix Coco quietly snoozing on the floor waiting for her dad to finish working in the study. Modern art, my beloved pups, a glorious book—needless to say, my heart is full tonight!
June 29, 2019
Um bonito álbum fotográfico com tudo para quem gosta de cães e especialmente para os donos de dachshunds.
June 30, 2013
I really enjoyed this, but i held back one star because some of the photographs were not as great as i thought they could have been. For example, there is what could be a really great picture of Lump in a large room with huge windows, but the lighting is such that Lump disappears into a lump...you cannot see his features at all. Instead, the photograph seems focused on the beautiful window behind him. Also, some of the writing was awkward, requiring me to read things twice. That said, this is a really fun book for anyone interested in photography and/or the private life of Picasso and/or dogs, other animals, and young children. In fact, I think you should do yourself a favor and read to get a better sense of how lovely this book is. I'm just being too negative today.
February 14, 2007
I was given this little book as a birthday gift by a friend who knows me well - I love dogs, dachshunds in particular. This book is a photo essay of the relationship between Picasso and a dachshund called Lump. The dog belonged to an Italian photographer who was always , and one day when he was visiting Picasso in the South of France, Lump, who was with him, decided he preferred Picasso's house and stayed! The photographer took the photos himself, and they capture Picasso's obvious affection for this glorious little creature, and provide you with some insight into the artist's life. All the pictures are captioned and there are bits of text.
February 2, 2008
I bought this book in the giftshop at the Art Museum in Houston, I was there for work. The museum had a special exhibit going on that featured dogs in art, so I went after work one day & wandered through it- it was a really neat exhibit. I never realized how many paintings, etc feature pets. Since we have a little doxie of our own, how could I not love this photo book about Picasso's own doxie Lump. It was interesting to see how he wound up in so many of Picasso's works.
May 4, 2010
Loved the insider view of Picasso's incredible studio (complete with wild pigeons and doves coming and going freely as well as his pet goat Esmerelda who was literally tied to Esmerelda the sculpture of a goat. Lump was more of a supporting character than a star....OH LUMP. Lump is the perfect name for a dachshund.
Captions were fun and enlightening, this book is so short though!
Picasso and Lump died around the same time, which I thought was touching, sad, and sweet.
Captions were fun and enlightening, this book is so short though!
Picasso and Lump died around the same time, which I thought was touching, sad, and sweet.
March 3, 2011
It doesn't read like a book; it's more of a pictorial history of Picasso's relationship with his dachshund. How could I not love this book? Sweet and memorable pictures of Picasso family life. For me, it made the artist seem less enigmatic and more human.
June 19, 2018
A wonderful peek into the private life of Pablo Picasso.
February 6, 2025
Mostly pictures but still a cute story.
March 7, 2017
HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT PICASSO HAD A WIENER DOG?!? Sweet photos that tell the story of Picasso and Lumpito.
February 5, 2016
As a dachshund lover, and as a fan of Picasso, I knew I needed to read this. Anyone that has had a dachshund knows that they are very stubborn and that they can easily get what they want if they're determined to get it. It comes as no surprise that Lump would decide La Californie was his new home and make it so. The fact that Picasso warmed up to Lump in a way he didn't with other dogs is proof of the power of a doxie. I really enjoyed the pictures and the peek into Picasso's personal life and home. The only negatives here were the writing ( a bit odd in places) and that I would have preferred more photos of Picasso and Lump interacting, rather than the photos of his family, since the books's focus was the Maestro and the dog.
May 16, 2013
Exquisite and intimate photographs and text by this friend and photographer of the artist. The story of how the author's dog left him for his subject and charmed the still hard working septuagenarian into a privileged relationship is beautifully documented in black and white photos. In addition to documenting the bond between Picasso and Lump, the reader is given a visual insight to the life and workings of the artist at home. Any dog lover will experience delight in Picasso's portrayal of Lump in the works included in this charming book
February 24, 2012
This book is mainly a series of photographs and commentary about the dachshund, Lump, that Picasso obtained from the photographer (Duncan). The photographs are charming, as are the pictures that Picasso painted in which Lump plays a part.
Picasso was a real enigma, and this book would be interesting to anyone looking to see the human side of this artist who thought so differently from most of us. I was especially entranced by the goat who lived in the hallway inside the villa.
Picasso was a real enigma, and this book would be interesting to anyone looking to see the human side of this artist who thought so differently from most of us. I was especially entranced by the goat who lived in the hallway inside the villa.
September 3, 2007
Duotone photographs of Picasso and the charming Lump, and the inclusion of Lump in several of his paintings, make this one a nice afternoon treat.
Read
July 26, 2009SO CUTE. Also the perfect complement to Ariana Huffington's idiotic Picasso bio. As coffee-table books go, this one is tops.
September 30, 2010
What an intriguing side of Picasso! I really like daschunds AND photography, too, so this was a neat book to see!
August 1, 2011
A beautiful and intimate collection of photographs giving an incite into Picasso's life and love for this rather cheeky pup.
September 1, 2011
Well, I like Picasso, and I like dachshunds, and I like photographs. So this book was accordingly pleasing.
June 13, 2012
This was particularly meaningful to me as I just saw several of those paintings and photographs at the Picasso museum in Barcelona
April 6, 2013
Not much to read, mainly just pictures of his beloved Dachshund Lump & goats ;)
Read
November 7, 2019ah...two of my favorite things, picasso and dachshunds, love this book
October 21, 2007
The photographs are just touching beyond words.
July 15, 2008
what is not to like? pablo picasso and his pet wiener dog Lump.
July 15, 2012
One of my most prized books. Shows a tender side of Picasso.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
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