13 Facts About Fernande Olivier

Fernande Olivier was raised by an aunt and uncle, who attempted to arrange a marriage for her.

Fernande Olivier changed her name so that her husband could not find her.

Fernande Olivier was a fixture in the circle of friends of writer Guillaume Apollinaire, where she became friends with Paul Leautaud, Kees van Dongen and Edmond-Marie Poullain.

Fernande Olivier met Picasso at the Bateau-Lavoir, 13 Rue de Ravignan in 1904, and by the next year they were living together.

In Barcelona Fernande Olivier was introduced to Picasso's family and local friends.

Fernande Olivier later admitted that one of the Demoiselles d'Avignon was modeled after her.

The small family did not last and upon discovering explicit drawings of Raymonde made by Picasso, Fernande Olivier sent the girl back to the orphanage.

The couple briefly stayed in Barcelona and then in 1909 spent the summer in Horta de Sant Joan, where Fernande Olivier learned some Catalan.

Picasso and Fernande Olivier separated in 1912, leaving Fernande Olivier without a way to carry on living in the style to which she had become accustomed.

Fernande Olivier had no legal right to expect anything from the painter, since she was still technically married to her first husband.

Fernande Olivier hired lawyers to prevent the publication of the series.

In 1956, when Fernande Olivier had become deaf and was suffering from arthritis, she persuaded Picasso to pay her a small pension in exchange for her promise not to publish anything further about their relationship as long as either of them was alive.

Fernande Olivier died on 29 January 1966 in Paris at the age of 84.