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Great Collectors of Our Time/James Stourton

Published in 2007 and covering the post-War period this is a thorough account of the Great Collectors.

Many – like Paul Getty, Paul Mellon,  the Rothschilds and Giovanni Agnelli have huge wealth – others like Peggy Guggenheim a brilliant eye but less funds to acquire, although she was first onto the American abstractionists like Jackson Pollock.

The author James Stourton was chairman of Sotheby’s which, whilst providing access to the great collections, does lead to a certain bias towards Sotheby’s.

Christopher Cone, the partner of collector Stanley Seeger, was for example employed by Sotheby’s. It means too that he cannot cover the cartel scandal.

The book also suffers as it is now 17 years since its publication.

In that time new well-funded museums have sprung up in the Middle East and also new gallerists.

Some already prevalent do not get much of a reference, e.g. the Lefevre that built up L.S. Lowry in the 60s and the Marlborough.

Stefan Simchowitz is now a big global dealer.

What motivated the collector?

In many cases it is more a badge of wealth – like thoroughbred race horses, super yachts and football clubs – rather than a genuine love of art.

I have advised less rich collectors and you can identify an up and coming artist – like Rob Pointon – or those that are no longer fashionable like Graham Sutherland, John Piper and Carel Weight.

L. S. Lowry has maintained his value and collectability.

Its a shame the work, whilst comprehensive, does not cover the 20th Century as – if it had – the two great Russian collectors Schukin and Morozov, particular acquirers of Matisse would be mentioned, as surely would be Joseph Duveen – who saw the financial equation between New World money and Old World fine art – and Gertrude and Leo Stein.

One tends to think of collectors of fine art but this book reminds us that manuscripts, ceramics and silver are also popular. Perhaps the interest in sports memorabilia was not so active in 2007 but it’s now immensely collectible.

It would be interesting, too, to know how collections are broken up.  There are tax breaks to leave a collection to a museum but now auction houses have eclipsed art dealers for their disposal.

 

 

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About Alice Mansfield

A graduate of the Slade, Alice has painted and written about art all her life. With her children now having now grown up and departed the nest, she recently took up sculpture. More Posts