Collector Stories
“I paid a visit to the young Kraemer rue de Monceau”
Between J.Paul Getty and the Kraemer family,
a long and beautiful story around art.
J.Paul Getty spoke of the great-grandfather of the younger generation in his personal diary in 1930.
Since then, numerous art objects from 43 rue de Monceau have found a place at the J.Paul Getty Museum.
In the 1930s, after a long boat trip, Jean-Paul Getty visited the Galerie Kraemer, rue de Monceau in Paris.
He was not an expansive man.
According to family memories, he always seemed in a hurry and perpetually in action.
At that time, Lucien and Raymond Kraemer probably did not suspect that this already known, but discreet, character would found one of the most important museums in the United States, and that the image bank which would bear his name would become a reference.
Known at the time for his avarice, J.Paul Getty nevertheless became one of the most generous donors in the art world. He created the Getty Foundation and founded his first museum in Malibu in 1974.
The creation of this museum had raised concerns about the stability of the art market, but the museum curators showed great intelligence by purchasing like private collectors, often traveling to Paris, particularly to our Gallery , and selecting with taste and subtlety.
Today, the museum includes departments devoted to decorative arts, sculpture and classical art, European painting, drawing, and manuscripts.
J. Paul Getty, circa 1930. Photographed in 1965.
When the pleasure of collecting paves the way to posterity
J.Paul Getty is one of those collectors whose name will be remembered forever.
Like the Camondo, Jacquemart-André, Gulbenkian, Cognac-Jay, Mellon, JP Morgan, Frick, Richard Wallace, Wrightsman or Huntington, his passion for art and the donation of his collection have ensured that the Getty name still shines today.
We can draw a parallel in France with major collectors, such as Bernard Arnault (Fondation Vuitton), François Pinault (La Bourse de Commerce – Pinault collection), the Houzé family (Lafayette Anticipations), la Fondation Pernod Ricard, la Fondation Carmignac, la Fondation Cartier or la Fondation Emerige (Laurent Dumas). Similarly, in the United States with The Lauder family, Rales (Glenstone) Rubell, Walton, Eli Broad, Peter Brant, Guggenheim, etc.
Their passion, the pleasure of acquiring, and the desire to collect, have ensured that the names of these patrons live on in posterity.
Their passion for art has often profoundly changed the course of their lives: for them and their family, art become as important as their own business or financial affairs.
Thus, the museums of France are filled with very beautiful artworks and paintings donated by amateurs who sometimes made great efforts to acquire them, such as the Rothschild, David-Weill, Grog-Carven families, etc.
Extract from the Personal diary of J. Paul Getty.
Saturday July 8, 1939:
« Saw Kraemer & Fabre collections. K[raemer] had a fine pair of Sèvres plaques consoles by Weisweller, bought in England recently. [He] asks £6,000 said finest furniture he had bought in his career. He has sold several pieces inc.[luding] the extremely fine small commode since I last saw the collection a year ago. »
A selection of some of the many objects from the Galerie Kraemer, located now at the J.Paul Getty Museum.
