Pablo Picasso’s MB Gullwing immortalized, off to Pebble Beach

The famous artist and renowned co-creator of cubism had many lovers but few cars, and his favorite car – the one he held on to the longest – was his Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.

"In 2007, I had the opportunity to work with Picasso's car. Following a conversation with Pablo's son Claude, the car was delivered to my workshop where I began a journey leading me to the creation of a full size sculpture," Dante said.

Mercedes-Benz holds a special place in automotive history with some of the most outstanding vehicle designs ever within their portfolio. Notable among these is the 300 SL Gullwing produced in the 1950’s and responsible for changing the company’s image in America.

Elegant, anomalous styling was just one aspect making the vehicle iconic and leading to many famous owners such as Pablo Picasso, whose car remains with the family. All this was a source of inspiration for the award-winning Swiss artist Dante.

"Having Pablo Picasso's original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in my shop was incredible," said Dante. "The spirit I felt come through the vehicle made me create and the first sculpture I produced was actually a one-to-one scale interpretation of Pablo's car."

Dante's success with the 300 SL led him to a series of sculptures depicting exotic sports cars. In addition to the Mercedes-Benz, the series includes the Aston Martin DB5 and the Ferrari 250 GTO. Examples of each will be exhibited during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a haven for those coveting quality and prestige.

About Dante
Dante Rubli is based in Bern, Switzerland. For 25 years, he has produced art utilizing a variety of textures ranging from wood and steel to gold and platinum. Dante creates custom furniture, sculptures and even automobiles for celebrities and collectors worldwide. The Iconic Sports Car series offers his recent work in three scales. Each series design is limited to ten exceptional pieces that can be tailored as bespoke works of art, supplied in traditional gold, white gold, silver and several other luxury finishes to fulfill a collector's vision.