Heinz Berggruen's Memoir 'Ricordi di un mercante d’arte' Published by Skira
The book 'Ricordi di un mercante d’arte' (Skira, 2017) collects Heinz Berggruen's witty articles about his life as an art dealer. Born in Berlin in 1914 to a Jewish family, he fled Germany in the 1930s, settled in California, then moved to Paris in 1947 where he founded Galerie Berggruen. The volume, translated by Enrico Arosio, covers his relationships with artists like Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Helmut Newton, and Juan Gris. Berggruen co-authored the catalogue raisonné of Gris with Douglas Cooper. He returned to Germany at over 80, leaving his collection to the Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin as a gesture of reconciliation. The book recounts anecdotes such as buying a Picasso drawing from Paul Éluard in 1950, selling a Picasso watercolor to Baron Alain de Rothschild, and observing Alberto Giacometti in his studio. Clients included Gianni Agnelli and Frank Haviland. Berggruen died at 93.
Key facts
- Heinz Berggruen was born in Berlin in 1914 to a Jewish family.
- He fled Germany in the 1930s and later studied in California while working as a waiter.
- He founded Galerie Berggruen in Paris in 1947.
- The book 'Ricordi di un mercante d’arte' was published by Skira in 2017.
- The Italian translation is by journalist Enrico Arosio.
- Berggruen had close relationships with Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Helmut Newton, and Juan Gris.
- He co-authored the catalogue raisonné of Juan Gris with Douglas Cooper.
- He left his collection to Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin at over 80 years old.
- He bought a Picasso drawing from Paul Éluard in 1950, paying for it by reselling a Klee drawing.
- He sold a Picasso watercolor from the Rose Period (1905-1906) to Baron Alain de Rothschild.
- Clients included Gianni Agnelli and Frank Haviland.
- He observed Alberto Giacometti working in his Paris studio.
- Henri Matisse was sharp with Berggruen in March 1953 over proofs for a catalog.
- Berggruen died at age 93.
Entities
Artists
- Heinz Berggruen
- Pablo Picasso
- Paul Klee
- Henri Matisse
- Helmut Newton
- Juan Gris
- Alberto Giacometti
- Gertrude Stein
- Douglas Cooper
Institutions
- Skira
- Galerie Berggruen
- Charlottenburg Castle
- Artribune
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- California
- Paris
- France
- Madrid
- Spain
- Charlottenburg Castle