French painter Francoise Gilot, the only woman to dump Picasso, dies aged 101

French painter Françoise Gilot, who was Pablo Picasso's partner from 1946 to 1953, then pursued a career as a renowned artist after leaving him, has died aged 101. Photo: AFP

France's Francoise Gilot, who died on Tuesday aged 101, survived what she called the "hell" of being Spanish artist Pablo Picasso's mistress and muse to become a renowned artist in her own right.

The Picasso Museum in Paris confirmed her death to AFP, after the New York Times reported Gilot had passed away following recent heart and lung ailments.