Never Say Die
I’ve just been to the Royal Academy to see a small exhibition in an annexe to the Summer Exhibition. And if you like the Impressionists, just drop everything and go. You will see paintings by masters such as Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Corot, Morisot, Degas, Boldini and Sisley that you have never seen before (unless you live in Massachusetts), as well as over 20 Renoirs.
It is amazing. What a treasure trove.
Spring In Giverny, by Claude Monet, 1890
This astonishing collection was built through the First World War, the Great Depression and the Second World War right up till 1956 when Sterling Clark, the collector, died. Shortly after America’s 1929 crash he spent over $5,000,000 on paintings. Together with the gorgeous paintings at the gallery the invoices for many purchases are displayed, a fascinating human touch. Clark’s preferred advisor was the Knoedler Gallery, which helped him for forty years. The art dealership closed in disgrace last year after being accused of selling forged Rothkos and Pollocks, but still retains the vestiges of its 155 years of power — there is no Wikipedia entry for it, a sign of immense influence, more than Lehman Brothers could manage.
St. Charles, Eragny, by Pissaro, 1881
This morning a Constable was sold for £22 million. Who can imagine what the paintings in this exhibition would be worth? Who could possibly have that sort of money? Who was this Sterling Clark?
Onions, by Renoir, 1881
He was one of four sons of Alfred Corning Clark. None the wiser? Alfred’s father was Edward Clark. Still a no? OK, Clark grand-père was the business partner of sewing machine magnate Isaac Singer, and had some claim to have invented hire-purchase. So all these fabulous paintings were purchased with one grandson’s quarter-share inheritance from the junior partner of a sewing machine manufacturer. How much could that company have been worth?
At The Concert, by Renoir, 1881
One thing I’m pretty certain about — you could sell just a couple of the pictures exhibited here and buy back the entire Singer Sewing Machine Company. Look at the recent fotoLibra Pro Blog about Consumables, Heirlooms and Landfill. Here, you can meet the heirlooms.
Peaceful Days, by Boldini, 1880. I was captivated by this small painting. The iPhone repro does not begin to do it justice. Look at that fabulous grey silk dress — it has to be silk — the languid foot, the forgotten cello, the tousled rug, the tassels on the cushion. I could stare and marvel for hours at such fluent technique, such humour
Oh — so why did I title this Never Say Die? Because during his lifetime our Mr Clark was better known as a racehorse owner than an art collector. His horse Never Say Die won the 1954 Derby, the first win by the 18 year old jockey Lester Piggott.
Clark certainly had an eye for a winner.
From Paris: A Taste for Impressionism — Paintings from the Clark is an exhibition in the Sackler Galleries at the Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London from July 7th to September 23rd. If you enjoy impressionist art, you have to go. And if you’re not in London in 2012 — and where else would you choose to be? — this exhibition is travelling to Montréal in October, Tokyo next March, Kobe in June and Shanghai in September. Do not miss it.
