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Duveen: A Life in Art,Used
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Anyone who has admired Gainsborough's Blue Boy of the Huntington Collection in California, or Rembrandt's Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York owes much of his or her pleasure to art dealer Joseph Duveen (18691939). Regarded as the most influentialor, in some circles, notoriousdealer of the twentieth century, Duveen established himself selling the European masterpieces of Titian, Botticelli, Giotto, and Vermeer to newly and lavishly wealthy American businessmenJ. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Mellon, to name just a few. It is no exaggeration to say that Duveen was the driving force behind every important private art collection in the United States.The first major biography of Duveen in more than fifty years and the first to make use of his enormous archiveonly recently opened to the publicMeryle Secrest's Duveen traces the rapid ascent of the tirelessly enterprising dealer, from his humble beginnings running his father's business to knighthood and eventually apeerage. The eldest of eight sons of JewishDutch immigrants, Duveen inherited an uncanny ability to spot a hidden treasure from his father, proprietor of a prosperous antiques business. After his father's death, Duveen moved the company into the riskier but lucrative market of paintings and quickly became one of the world's leading art dealers. The key to Duveen's success was his simple observation that while Europe had the art, America had the money; Duveen made his fortune by buying art from declining European aristocrats and selling them to the 'squillionaires' in the United States.'By far the best account of Joseph Duveen's life in a biography that is rich in detail, scrupulously researched, and sympathetically written. [Secrest's] inquiries into earlytwentiethcentury collecting whet our appetite for a more general history of the art market in the first half of the twentieth century.'John Brewer, New York Review of Books
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- Q: What is the main subject of 'Duveen: A Life in Art'? A: The book primarily focuses on the life of art dealer Joseph Duveen, detailing his influence on the art market in the United States during the twentieth century.
- Q: Who is the author of the biography? A: The biography is authored by Meryle Secrest, who provides an in-depth look at Duveen's life and career.
- Q: How many pages does the book contain? A: The book consists of 540 pages, offering a comprehensive exploration of Duveen's life and impact on art collecting.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: This biography was published on November 1, 2005.
- Q: Is 'Duveen: A Life in Art' suitable for art collectors? A: Yes, the book is particularly suitable for art collectors and enthusiasts, as it provides insights into the art market and the history of collecting.
- Q: What format is the book available in? A: The book is available in paperback format, making it accessible for readers who prefer physical copies.
- Q: What notable figures does the book mention in relation to Duveen? A: The book mentions prominent figures like J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Mellon, who were among Duveen's wealthy American clients.
- Q: Does the book include any illustrations or images? A: The book primarily focuses on text and research; it may not contain extensive illustrations, as it is a biography centered on historical narrative.
- Q: What themes are explored in the book? A: The book explores themes of art collecting, the intersection of wealth and culture, and the evolution of the art market in the early twentieth century.
- Q: Is this biography the first major work about Joseph Duveen in recent years? A: Yes, it is the first significant biography of Joseph Duveen in over fifty years, utilizing newly available archival materials.