Bignou Gallery Albums

Collection

Identifier: MS.024

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of 33 albums containing photographs of artwork that passed through the hands of the Bignou Gallery (New York) during the 1930s and 1940s. Many of the photographs are accompanied by information about the painting such as physical description, exhibition history, and provenance. The artists included are mainly French from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries, and include such luminaries as Cézanne, Corot, Dufy, Matisse, and Renoir.

Dates

Creation: circa 1930s-1940s

Creator

Bignou Gallery (Organization)

Access Restrictions

These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives access policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org.

Historical Note

Étienne Bignou (1891-1950) was a Parisian art dealer, noted for his paintings by artists such as Cézanne, Daumier, Corot, Degas, Renoir, Dérain, Picasso, Utrillo and Matisse. He opened his own gallery in 1927, and after Georges Petit's death, he purchased Petit's firm with dealers Gaston and Josse Bernheim-Jeune. Georges Keller was appointed director of the Galerie Georges Petit in 1929. After the gallery closed in 1933, Keller continued to work with Bignou at his Galerie Étienne Bignou and became the director for the New York branch of the Bignou Gallery in 1935. After Bignou's death in 1950, Keller closed the Bignou Gallery and became director of the Carstairs Gallery, New York.

Extent

10 Linear feet (33 Volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Albums containing photographs and descriptions of artwork that passed through the hands of the Bignou Gallery (New York) during the 1930s and 1940s.

Arrangement

Albums are arranged alphabetically by artist or movement.

Provenance

Gift of Carstairs Gallery through George Keller, July 23, 1962. Mr. Keller, then head of Carstairs, was formerly with both Barbazanges and Bignou Galleries.