John Michael Montias
Encyclopedia
John Michael Montias was an economist
and art historian, well-known for his contributions to the economic history of Dutch Golden Age painting
. Born in Paris
, he studied at Columbia University
, where he received his Ph.D
in Soviet bloc economics in 1958. He subsequently taught economics at Yale University
. He published studies on Polish
and Romania
n economics, and, in 1977, the book Structure of Economic Systems.
In the mid-1970s his interest shifted to the economics of art in seventeenth-century Netherlands
, a subject that had interested him since his time as a postgraduate student
. His first article on this subject, "Painters in Delft, 1613–1680" published in the 1978–1979 volume of Simiolus, is credited with helping invigorate the study of the economies of art. This line of research culminated in his book Artists and Artisans in Delft: A Socio-Economic Study of the Seventeenth Century (1982). The book demonstrates convincingly how economic history may contribute to a better understanding of cultural developments.
Montias's contributions to Vermeer
studies have been widely acknowledged. In 1989 he published "Vermeer and his milieu", in which he mentions many new documents on Pieter van Ruijven
, Jacobus Dissius, his son-in-law and Hendrick van Buijten, the principal collectors of Vermeer's paintings. He concentrated on Maria Thins
, Vermeer's mother-in-law, when he discovered Vermeer had moved in at her house.
Montias began recording details of ownership of works of art from the Gemeentearchief (municipal archive, now known as the Amsterdam City Archives
in the early 1980s as part of his own work on the prices of Dutch paintings at Amsterdam auctions in the seventeenth century. In 1986, he was given a grant by the Getty Art History Information Program (now the Getty Research Institute) to work in conjunction with its Provenance Index. He was one of the earliest contributors to the Index, which had been established only a few years earlier, and eventually gave them information from over 300 inventories. After he left the Getty, he continued inputting the material on his own and added data from nearly 1000 more, all of which he gave to the Frick Art Reference Library. The complete Montias Database is available through the Frick Collection
web site.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and art historian, well-known for his contributions to the economic history of Dutch Golden Age painting
Dutch Golden Age painting
Dutch Golden Age painting is the painting of the Dutch Golden Age, a period in Dutch history generally spanning the 17th century, during and after the later part of the Eighty Years War for Dutch independence. The new Dutch Republic was the most prosperous nation in Europe, and led European trade,...
. Born in 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...
, he studied at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he received his Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Soviet bloc economics in 1958. He subsequently taught economics at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He published studies on Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n economics, and, in 1977, the book Structure of Economic Systems.
In the mid-1970s his interest shifted to the economics of art in seventeenth-century Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, a subject that had interested him since his time as a postgraduate student
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
. His first article on this subject, "Painters in Delft, 1613–1680" published in the 1978–1979 volume of Simiolus, is credited with helping invigorate the study of the economies of art. This line of research culminated in his book Artists and Artisans in Delft: A Socio-Economic Study of the Seventeenth Century (1982). The book demonstrates convincingly how economic history may contribute to a better understanding of cultural developments.
Montias's contributions to Vermeer
Johannes Vermeer
Johannes, Jan or Johan Vermeer was a Dutch painter who specialized in exquisite, domestic interior scenes of middle class life. Vermeer was a moderately successful provincial genre painter in his lifetime...
studies have been widely acknowledged. In 1989 he published "Vermeer and his milieu", in which he mentions many new documents on Pieter van Ruijven
Pieter van Ruijven
Pieter Claesz. van Ruijven is known as Johannes Vermeer's patron. In 1657, he lent Vermeer 200 guilders. It is not known if he had any trade or profession. Like his father, he worked for the city institution, the Camer van Charitate .In 1653, he married Maria de Knuijt. The couple had one daughter...
, Jacobus Dissius, his son-in-law and Hendrick van Buijten, the principal collectors of Vermeer's paintings. He concentrated on Maria Thins
Maria Thins
Maria Thins was the mother-in-law of Johannes Vermeer and a member of the Gouda Thins family .-Life:...
, Vermeer's mother-in-law, when he discovered Vermeer had moved in at her house.
Montias began recording details of ownership of works of art from the Gemeentearchief (municipal archive, now known as the Amsterdam City Archives
Amsterdam City Archives
The Amsterdam City Archives preserves documents pertaining to the history of Amsterdam and provides information about the city. With archives covering a shelf-length of about 35 kilometres, the Amsterdam City Archives is the largest municipal archive in the world.-History:In the Middle Ages,...
in the early 1980s as part of his own work on the prices of Dutch paintings at Amsterdam auctions in the seventeenth century. In 1986, he was given a grant by the Getty Art History Information Program (now the Getty Research Institute) to work in conjunction with its Provenance Index. He was one of the earliest contributors to the Index, which had been established only a few years earlier, and eventually gave them information from over 300 inventories. After he left the Getty, he continued inputting the material on his own and added data from nearly 1000 more, all of which he gave to the Frick Art Reference Library. The complete Montias Database is available through the Frick Collection
Frick Collection
The Frick Collection is an art museum located in Manhattan, New York City, United States.- History :It is housed in the former Henry Clay Frick House, which was designed by Thomas Hastings and constructed in 1913-1914. John Russell Pope altered and enlarged the building in the early 1930s to adapt...
web site.