The famous Musee d'Orsay in Paris will open on the 19th of June a splendid exhibition with the title "From Cezanne to Picasso - Masterpieces from the Vollard Gallery", showcasing some of the best works in the collection of one of the most important art collectors of the past.
 | Ambroise Vollard (1866 - 1939) was not only a passionate art lover but also one of the most important collectors in history, a real pioneer among dealers at the end of the 19th century. He would eventually end playing a key-role in the development of modern art, until the first decades of the next century. He was not only keen on discovering new artists and great works, but also had the personal talent of finding the artists which later proved to be hugely succesful, but in the beginning were scorned upon. Vollard managed to chose from the wide range of unknown painters those who really had a touch of genius. |
Portrait of Ambroise Vollard by Paul Cezanne
He was also a supporter of young artists, organising for example the first Cezanne exhibition in November 1895, but also several Nabis events or Derain and Rouault exhibitions. Although at the time his choice of works seemed crazy, now it appears that vollard had a real talent for discovering hidden gems. He also kept a close relationship with each of these artists, being a friend, admirer and seldom a financial suport. He also tried to link the French and mostly the Parisian art world to the international community of collectors, dealers and artists.
Last but not least, Ambroise Vollard played an important part in promoting artists by editing several beautiful albums of litographies, called "livred d'artistes", a field that was then ignored. He also wrote several important monographies, dedicated to Cezanne, Degas, Renoir, and also put together his memories in a popular book. A real promoter of modern art, Vollard was also a passionate collector, and managed to acquire some of the best works of his time.
Some of these artworks have been chosen by the curators in order to present in detail the rich collection put together by Ambroise Vollard, and the show is sure to be a successful one. The exhibition has already been shown, with much critical acclaim, at the MET in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Photo : Corbis
May 2007
