Today we went over to the Musee Marmottan Monet to see a temporary exhibit that will be closing very soon. It was a collection from a Swiss collector whose home was called the Villa Flora. He was an ophthalmologist named Arthur Hanloser who along with his wife Hedy started collecting early in the 20th century between 1906 and 1936 starting with the post-impressionists, Felix Vallotton and Ferdinand Hodler.
They made friends with the artists and hosted them at the houses in Zurich and Cannes. As a result ended up making friends with the likes of Bonnard, Matisse, Manet, Vuillard, and Redon among others and ended up collecting their works as well. And along the way they also managed to collect a few Cezanne's and a couple Van Gogh's to boot. But they considered the crown jewel of their collection to be a large nude by Felix Vallotton, so fine company indeed. What makes them so interesting is that they did their collecting pretty much based on what really grabbed them personally rather than relying on a third party to lead them. But obviously the collection is first rate because they brought it to the museum for the first French exhibition ever. Interestingly we heard a British couple talking about having come over from London for the day just to see it.
A funny thing, Ferdinand Hodler was the most celebrated painter in Switzerland in the 19th century and they didn't even mention him in the promotional release from the museum. A little French chauvinism? I wonder. I did manage a couple of photos before being disciplined that they didn't allow photos in the exhibit. There were close to 80 pieces on display and it was sensational to see.
Today we went over to the Musee Marmottan Monet to see a temporary exhibit that will be closing very soon. It was a collection from a Swiss collector whose home was called the Villa Flora. He was an ophthalmologist named Arthur Hanloser who along with his wife Hedy started collecting early in the 20th century between 1906 and 1936 starting with the post-impressionists, Felix Vallotton and Ferdinand Hodler. 
They made friends with the artists and hosted them at the houses in Zurich and Cannes. As a result ended up making friends with the likes of Bonnard, Matisse, Manet, Vuillard, and Redon among others and ended up collecting their works as well. And along the way they also managed to collect a few Cezanne's and a couple Van Gogh's to boot. But they considered the crown jewel of their collection to be a large nude by Felix Vallotton, so fine company indeed. What makes them so interesting is that they did their collecting pretty much based on what really grabbed them personally rather than relying on a third party to lead them. But obviously the collection is first rate because they brought it to the museum for the first French exhibition ever. Interestingly we heard a British couple talking about having come over from London for the day just to see it.
A funny thing, Ferdinand Hodler was the most celebrated painter in Switzerland in the 19th century and they didn't even mention him in the promotional release from the museum. A little French chauvinism? I wonder. I did manage a couple of photos before being disciplined that they didn't allow photos in the exhibit. There were close to 80 pieces on display and it was sensational to see.
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