The Malton Gallery drew both art and music lovers last month when it displayed a guitar once owned and played by Pablo Picasso

Art Business News, Dec, 2003

The Malton Gallery drew both art and music lovers last month when it displayed a guitar once owned and played by Pablo Picasso. While the instrument was available to anyone willing to foot the $125,000 price tag, gallery owner Sylvia Rombis said that, so far, there have been no takers. While it hasn't sold, the instrument has generated a lot of interest in the gallery, Rombis said.

Picasso frequently played flamenco on the weathered guitar--until the man who taught him how to play asked the artist to pay up for his services. "As we know, Picasso was not a very nice person," Rombis said. "He hated to pay for anything, so when his teacher asked to be paid, Picasso said, 'No.' Instead, he took the guitar, drew a picture of a matador on it, signed it and gave it to his teacher as payment."

After the teacher died, the guitar was purchased by a Parisian collector, but for the past 20 years, it has been part of a private art collection in Miami, Fla. Since the guitar did not sell, Rombis is preparing to send it back to its owner in Miami. "It's still available, though, "she said." I can get it back anytime."