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Podcasts Take Two
One painting led Norton Simon to buy a whole gallery, building included
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Nov 10, 2014
Listen • 8:04
One painting led Norton Simon to buy a whole gallery, building included
Fifty years ago, art magnate Norton Simon made a huge move in the art world: he bought the entire collection of a New York gallery once owned by brothers Joseph and Henry Duveen.
"Lock, Stock and Barrel," on display at the Norton Simon Museum, showcases many of the works that Norton Simon himself purchased when he bought the entire inventory of the Duveen Brothers Gallery in 1964. It was a grand move in order to acquire this jewel, "Bust Portrait of a Courtesan," believed to be painted by Italian artist Giorgione.
"Lock, Stock and Barrel," on display at the Norton Simon Museum, showcases many of the works that Norton Simon himself purchased when he bought the entire inventory of the Duveen Brothers Gallery in 1964. It was a grand move in order to acquire this jewel, "Bust Portrait of a Courtesan," believed to be painted by Italian artist Giorgione.
(
The Norton Simon Museum
)
Among the many pieces of art at the Norton Simon Museum exhibit, "Lock, Stock and Barrel," is this luxurious cape, dating back to circa 1805. Made in Spain, it was worn by those knighted into the order of Carlos III.
Among the many pieces of art at the Norton Simon Museum exhibit, "Lock, Stock and Barrel," is this luxurious cape, dating back to circa 1805. Made in Spain, it was worn by those knighted into the order of Carlos III.
(
The Norton Simon Museum
)
In "Lock, Stock and Barrel," the Norton Simon Museum showcases the artworks acquired by Norton Simon when he bought the entire collection held by the Duveen Brothers Gallery. One of the defining features of the art were the elaborate frames that accompanied many of the paintings.
In "Lock, Stock and Barrel," the Norton Simon Museum showcases the artworks acquired by Norton Simon when he bought the entire collection held by the Duveen Brothers Gallery. One of the defining features of the art were the elaborate frames that accompanied many of the paintings.
(
The Norton Simon Museum
)

Fifty years ago, art magnate Norton Simon made a huge move in the art world: he bought the entire collection of a New York gallery once owned by brothers Joseph and Henry Duveen.

Fifty years ago, art magnate Norton Simon made a huge move in the art world: he bought the entire collection of a New York gallery once owned by brothers Joseph and Henry Duveen.

Simon even snatched up the building which housed the massive inventory.

Now visitors to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena have a chance to explore much of that collection in the exhibition, "Lock, Stock, and Barrel."

It all started with Simon hoping to get his hands on the piece, "Bust Portrait of a Courtesan," reportedly made by Italian artist Giorgione.

"Mr. Simon, starting in 1957, knew of this picture," says the museum's chief curator Carol Togneri. "[The Duveens] had told him the cost to him would be $190,000."

Thinking the price was too high for a single painting, Simon declined but kept returning to the idea of that piece for years.

"It wasn't until 1963 when Mr. Simon went back and he wanted to know what else they had," says Togneri, explaining that often times galleries will have other rare pieces of art in their backrooms that are not for sale.

Norton Simon made two different offers. One: the equivalent of $1.57 million for several pieces of art including the Giorgione painting. The other: $4 million for everything they had in stock, including the Duveen Brothers Gallery building and library.

After just a few months of inventorying the collection, Simon made clear that he wanted to buy the whole gallery lock, stock and barrel.

The museum's new exhibition of some of these pieces offers a peek into how the purchase influenced the art scene in Southern California.

When Simon loaned them out, these works once made up a good portion of the Old World pieces that were displayed in museums such as LACMA.

The Duveen collection also shaped Norton Simon's taste in what he would acquire in future years, from French Impressionism to Southeast Asian art.

"What we have now is not only his beautiful Giorgione, which was the sparkle in his eyes," says  Togneri, "but galleries worth of some very interesting pictures for the history of collecting and taste."