Campaigners want to put up a Picasso statue in Sheffield's Peace Garden to honour his visit to the city

As the eyes of the world were on watching talks for peace take place in Sheffield Pablo Picasso left behind a drawing of the dove of peace which inspired a play and years of discussions.

Last year marked the 70th anniversary since the congress, and the Picasso Project want to go forward and have a Picasso-connected sculpture by artist Anthony Padgett based on Picasso's 'Child with a Dove' in an appropriate place in Sheffield.

The group want to see it installed in the Peace Gardens near to the International Brigade plaque.

Sculptor Anthony Padgett, a representative of the Artists Union of England, said: “In 2019 I created a Picasso Peace Sculpture and I've been securing locations for copies of this across Europe.

“The sculpture is a relationship to Picasso, Sheffield, the International Brigade, Spain, the Communism party and the cause of Peace. The aim is to site the smaller sculptures in key places concerning his work around the World Congress of Peace and other anti-war initiatives (often linked with the French Communist Party of which he was an active member from 1944 until he died in 1973). Only a couple of international sites are being sought for the larger sculpture. Sheffield is one of these key locations.”

The pioneering Spanish painter was greeted with a bunch of flowers when he disembarked from his carriage in November 1950. He was caught on camera holding the blooms while wearing a smart beret and a raincoat – what is less well-known is that, moments later, he was sheepishly asked to hand the flowers back as they were needed to welcome other guests.

Picasso left behind his Dove of Peace drawing, of which he made two on napkins – one in Butler’s Dining Rooms on Brook Hill, and the other while returning to London. He gave the latter to the bodyguard who accompanied him around Sheffield, and the sketch is now part of Museums Sheffield’s collection.

Anthony is also keen to have a similar sculpture honouring Picasso’s dove placed in Guernica or Malaga in Spain ensuring a link between Sheffield and Spain.

Delores Long has a personal interest in the project, having lived and taught in Sheffield for 20 years, and her father, Sam Wild, the last commander of the British Battalion of the International Brigade in the Spanish Civil War lived in Sheffield until his death in 1983.

She said: “Sheffield has always been a city with a proud record and tradition of supporting peace initiatives and commemorating its radical history.

"This statue is important because I think it is a forgotten piece of history and people living in the city don’t know much about and having a statute would be a talking point and allow people to learn more about our past.

"In 1950 just after the Second World War people were so keen for peace and there is still such a need for it in today’s world.”

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