Jacques Seligmann
Encyclopedia
Jacques Seligmann (18 September 1858, Frankfurt-am-Main
– 30 October 1923, Paris
) was a highly successful antiquarian and art dealer with businesses in both Paris and New York. He was one of the first to foster American interest in building collections of European art.
which moved the same year to the Place Vendôme
. Seligman opened a New York office in 1904, visiting it once a year. His customers included members of the Russian Stroganoff family
, the high-flying British politician Sir Philip Sassoon and American collectors such as Benjamin Altman
, William Randolph Hearst
, J. P. Morgan
, Henry Walters
, and Joseph Widener.
Initially Seligmann dealt mainly in antiques including enamels, ivories, sculptures, tapestries and especially 18th century French furniture but paintings became increasingly important at the beginning of the 20th century. After the end of the First World War
, interest in European art grew in the United States led by socialites such as Walter Arensberg
, Albert C. Barnes
, Louisine Havemeyer
, Bertha Palmer
, Duncan Phillips
, and John Quinn
.
In 1909, Seligmann bought the prestigious Hôtel de Monaco where he established his headquarters and received his most important clients. After a dispute with his brother Arnold, there was a split in the company: Arnold continued to manage the Place Vendôme site as Arnold Seligmann & Cie. while Seligmann consolidated his activities at the Hôtel de Monaco and, in 1912, opened a new Paris office at 9 Rue de la Paix
. In 1914, Seligmann opened a new office and gallery on New York's Fifth Avenue and incorporated his company in the State of New York. The same year, while in Paris, he was successful in buying a large part of Sir Richard Wallace's renowned collection which contained a variety of valuable antiques and art works. In 1920, his son Germain Seligman became a partner and president of the New York office, formally joining Jacques Seligmann & Fils. Seligmann died in Paris in October 1923.
, was born in Paris on 25 February 1893. His mother's maiden name was Blanche Falkenberg.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
– 30 October 1923, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a highly successful antiquarian and art dealer with businesses in both Paris and New York. He was one of the first to foster American interest in building collections of European art.
Biography
Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Seligmann moved to Paris in 1874 where he worked for Paul Chevallier, an auctioneer, and Charles Mannheim, an art expert, before opening his own business on the Rue des Mathurins in 1880 with Edmond de Rothschild as one of his early clients. In 1900, together with his brothers Arnold and Simon, he established the firm Jacques Seligmann & Cie.Jacques Seligmann & Company
Jacques Seligmann & Co. was a French and American art dealer and gallery specializing in decorative art and antiques. It is considered one of the foremost dealers and galleries in fostering appreciation for the collecting of contemporary European art. Many pieces purchased through Jacques Seligmann...
which moved the same year to the Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the...
. Seligman opened a New York office in 1904, visiting it once a year. His customers included members of the Russian Stroganoff family
Stroganovs
The Stroganovs or Strogonovs , also spelled in French manner as Stroganoffs, were a family of highly successful Russian merchants, industrialists, landowners, and statesmen of the 16th – 20th centuries who eventually earned nobility.-Origins:...
, the high-flying British politician Sir Philip Sassoon and American collectors such as Benjamin Altman
Benjamin Altman
Benjamin Altman was born and died in New York City. He was the son of Bavarian Jews who emigrated to America in 1835 and opened a small store on Attorney Street in NYC....
, William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
, J. P. Morgan
J. P. Morgan
John Pierpont Morgan was an American financier, banker and art collector who dominated corporate finance and industrial consolidation during his time. In 1892 Morgan arranged the merger of Edison General Electric and Thomson-Houston Electric Company to form General Electric...
, Henry Walters
Henry Walters
Henry Walters was president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until he retired in 1902. He was founder of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.-Biography:...
, and Joseph Widener.
Initially Seligmann dealt mainly in antiques including enamels, ivories, sculptures, tapestries and especially 18th century French furniture but paintings became increasingly important at the beginning of the 20th century. After the end of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, interest in European art grew in the United States led by socialites such as Walter Arensberg
Walter Arensberg
Walter Conrad Arensberg was an American art collector, critic and poet. His father was part owner and president of a crucible steel company. He majored in English and philosophy at Harvard University...
, Albert C. Barnes
Albert C. Barnes
Albert Coombs Barnes was an American chemist and art collector. With the fortune made from the development of the antiseptic, anti-blindness drug Argyrol, he founded the Barnes Foundation, an educational institution based on his private collection of art...
, Louisine Havemeyer
Louisine Havemeyer
Louisine Waldron Elder Havemeyer was an art collector, feminist, and philanthropist. In addition to being a patron of impressionist art, she was one of the more prominent contributors to the suffrage movement in the United States...
, Bertha Palmer
Bertha Palmer
Bertha Palmer was an American businesswoman, socialite, and philanthropist.- Biography :Born Bertha Matilde Honoré in Louisville, Kentucky, her father was businessman Henry Hamilton Honoré...
, Duncan Phillips
Duncan Phillips (art collector)
Duncan Phillips was a Washington, DC, based art collector and critic who played a seminal role in introducing America to modern art. The grandson of James H. Laughlin, a banker and co-founder of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company, Phillips was born in Pittsburgh and moved with his family to...
, and John Quinn
John Quinn (collector)
John Quinn was a second generation Irish-American corporate lawyer in New York, who for a time was an important patron of major figures of post-impressionism and literary modernism, and collector in particular of original manuscripts.- Life :...
.
In 1909, Seligmann bought the prestigious Hôtel de Monaco where he established his headquarters and received his most important clients. After a dispute with his brother Arnold, there was a split in the company: Arnold continued to manage the Place Vendôme site as Arnold Seligmann & Cie. while Seligmann consolidated his activities at the Hôtel de Monaco and, in 1912, opened a new Paris office at 9 Rue de la Paix
Rue de la Paix, Paris
The rue de la Paix is a fashionable shopping street in the center of Paris. Located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, running north from Place Vendôme and ending at the Opéra Garnier, it is best known for its jewellers, such as the shop opened by Cartier SA in 1898...
. In 1914, Seligmann opened a new office and gallery on New York's Fifth Avenue and incorporated his company in the State of New York. The same year, while in Paris, he was successful in buying a large part of Sir Richard Wallace's renowned collection which contained a variety of valuable antiques and art works. In 1920, his son Germain Seligman became a partner and president of the New York office, formally joining Jacques Seligmann & Fils. Seligmann died in Paris in October 1923.
Family
Seligmann's son, Germain SeligmanGermain Seligman
Germain Seligman was a successful art dealer, collector, and art historian. From 1924, Seligman headed the Paris and New York offices of Jacques Seligmann & Cie., a prominent art dealership...
, was born in Paris on 25 February 1893. His mother's maiden name was Blanche Falkenberg.
Further reading
- Seligman, Germain: "Merchants of art: 1880-1960; eighty years of professional collecting", New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962, 294 pages.
- Seligmann, Jacques: "Pour sauver notre marché des objets d'art", 2e partie, Paris, Imprimerie de l'art, 1921