Collection
Charles Sedelmeyer collection
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Charles Sedelmeyer collection is a collection.
About Charles Sedelmeyer collection
Identity & Overview
The Charles Sedelmeyer collection refers to the extensive stock of artworks held and displayed by the Galerie Sedelmeyer in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Owned by Charles Sedelmeyer, an Austrian-born publisher and art dealer, the gallery was established as a fixed location for displaying exceptional art by 1876. Unlike a traditional museum with a permanent endowment, the collection functioned as a dynamic inventory of approximately 1,000 original paintings, encompassing both Old Masters and modern artists, which were exhibited and sold to private collectors and institutions across Europe.
History & Founding
Charles Sedelmeyer founded the gallery in Paris, transforming it into a central hub for the art market by 1876. The gallery became renowned for its dual focus on historical works and contemporary creations. Notable events in its history include the Exposition Sedelmeyer in 1886, which featured works by artists such as Brožík alongside Old Masters, and a significant exhibition of American pictures and drawings held during the winter of 1887. This exhibition included over 400 works and was overseen by American artists residing in Paris, highlighting the gallery's international reach and influence.
Building & Architecture
The provided sources do not contain specific architectural details regarding the physical structure or address of the Galerie Sedelmeyer building in Paris. The records focus primarily on the gallery's function as a commercial and exhibition space rather than its architectural design. The gallery operated as a fixed location in Paris from at least 1876 until the early 20th century, serving as a venue for major auctions and exhibitions, including the sale of the E. Secrétan collection in 1889 and the Prosper Crabbe collection in 1890.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The gallery's stock was vast, reportedly containing about 1,000 original paintings. A specific 'Illustrated catalogue of 100 paintings of Old Masters' was published, highlighting works from the Dutch, Flemish, Italian, French, and English schools. One notable work mentioned in relation to the collection is a small sketch by Frans Hals of a man from his 'wet on wet' traveller series, dated 1643. This piece, which surprised expert Seymour Slive due to its explicit date, had been in the possession of both Sedelmeyer and the artist Munkácsy. The collection also included significant modern works and was instrumental in auctioning major private collections like those of E. Secrétan and Senator Prosper Crabbe.
Significance & Legacy
The Galerie Sedelmeyer played a pivotal role in the late 19th-century art market, particularly in popularizing Dutch art and facilitating the dispersal of major private collections to public and private institutions. Charles Sedelmeyer is credited with popularizing the Dutch artist Frans Hals, among others. The gallery's exhibitions, such as the 1908 show dedicated to portraits by early English school painters, helped define taste and market value for specific genres. The gallery's activities, including the publication of detailed catalogues of its inventory, remain important historical records for art historians studying the provenance of European Old Masters and the art trade of the period.