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Bernard Berenson Biography |
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Bernard Berenson (born June 26, 1865 Butrimonys (now Vilna), Lithuania – October 6, 1959 Florence Italy) was an USA art historian specializing in the Renaissance. He was a major figure in establishing the market for paintings by the "Old Masters".
Berenson was born Bernhard Valvrojenski in a Jewish family that emigrated to Boston from Lithuania in 1875, whereupon the family name was changed to "Berenson." He graduated from Harvard University and married Mary Smith, who became a notable art historian in her own right. Mary was the sister of Logan Pearsall Smith and of Alys Pearsall Smith, the first wife of Bertrand Russell. Mary had previously been married to barrister Frank Costelloe. Bernard Berenson was also involved in a long relationship with Belle da Costa Greene. Samuels (1987) mentions Mary's "reluctant acceptance (at times)" of this relationship. His great-great-niece, Marisa Berenson, is an actress. Her sister, Berry Berenson, was an actress/photographer, and the wife of actor Anthony Perkins. Berry died in the September 11, 2001 attacks. Professional life Berenson was considered in his day to be perhaps the greatest living authority on Renaissance art, and a verdict of authenticity from him was worth a fortune. Renaissance paintings had previously been a small part of the art market because they were hard to authenticate. Berenson's work changed this dramatically. He wrote numerous books: "The Art of Florence", "The Art of Venice" and "The Art of Siena" were part of his first book, 'The Italian Painters of the Renaissance. He also published two volumes of journals, "Rumor and Reflection" and "Sunset and Twilight". He is also the author of Aesthetics and History and Sketch for a Self-portrait. His residence in Florence, Italy, which he named I Tatti, is now the Harvard Center for Renaissance Studies. It houses his art collection and his personal library of books on art history and humanism. Berenson enjoyed a close relationship with Joseph Duveen, the period's most influential art dealer, who often relied heavily on Berenson's opinion to complete sales of works to prominent collectors who lacked knowledge of the field. Berenson was quiet and deliberating by nature, which sometimes caused friction between him and the boisterous Duveen. Their relationship ended on bad terms after a dispute over the authenticity of a painting intended for the collection of Henry C. Frick. Duveen was selling it as a Giorgione, but Berenson believed it to be an early Titian. In 1931, Berenson was called to give expert witness in a famous case brought by Andrée Hahn against Duveen. Hahn wanted to sell a painting she believed to be a version of Leonardo Da Vinci La belle Ferronière. Duveen, relying on Berenson's advice, rejected Hahn's attribution of the painting to Da Vinci, whereupon Hahn sued. At the ensuing trial, the jury was not convinced by Berenson's testimony, in part because he, while under cross-examination, was unable to recall the medium on which the picture was painted. A number of Berenson's attributions are now believed incorrect, and there is ongoing speculation as to whether these misattributions were deliberate. Berenson often had a considerable financial stake in the matter. 
Courtesy of: http://www.wikipedia.org/ |
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