Siegfried Kramarsky | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | December 25, 1961 | (aged 68)
Nationality | German American |
Occupation | Banker |
Spouse | |
Children | Sonja Kramarsky Binkhorst Werner H. Kramarsky Bernard Kramarsky |
Siegfried Kramarsky (April 14, 1893 – December 25, 1961) was a German American banker, philanthropist, and art collector of Jewish descent. [1]
He was the director of the Amsterdam branch of the banking firm Lisser & Rosenkranz, headquartered in Hamburg, [2] from 1923 until 1938. In light of the rise of Nazism in neighboring Germany, Kramarsky emigrated to Canada, and later New York City. [3] [4]
While in Amsterdam, Kramarsky compiled a large art collection that included several paintings of Vincent van Gogh. Shortly before the German invasion of the Netherlands, he bought Daubigny's Garden and the Portrait of Dr. Gachet from Franz Koenigs. [5] In 1990, the latter was sold by Kramarsky's heirs to Ryoei Saito for $82.5 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings in the world. [6]
When the Portrait of Dr Gachet was sold at Christie's in 1990 the Koenigs name did not appear in the published provenance in the catalogue, although it now appears that it passed through his hands. However, the Koenigs heir believes that the picture was then acquired by Kramarsky in questionable circumstances
Siegfried Kramarsky | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | December 25, 1961 | (aged 68)
Nationality | German American |
Occupation | Banker |
Spouse | |
Children | Sonja Kramarsky Binkhorst Werner H. Kramarsky Bernard Kramarsky |
Siegfried Kramarsky (April 14, 1893 – December 25, 1961) was a German American banker, philanthropist, and art collector of Jewish descent. [1]
He was the director of the Amsterdam branch of the banking firm Lisser & Rosenkranz, headquartered in Hamburg, [2] from 1923 until 1938. In light of the rise of Nazism in neighboring Germany, Kramarsky emigrated to Canada, and later New York City. [3] [4]
While in Amsterdam, Kramarsky compiled a large art collection that included several paintings of Vincent van Gogh. Shortly before the German invasion of the Netherlands, he bought Daubigny's Garden and the Portrait of Dr. Gachet from Franz Koenigs. [5] In 1990, the latter was sold by Kramarsky's heirs to Ryoei Saito for $82.5 million, making it one of the most expensive paintings in the world. [6]
When the Portrait of Dr Gachet was sold at Christie's in 1990 the Koenigs name did not appear in the published provenance in the catalogue, although it now appears that it passed through his hands. However, the Koenigs heir believes that the picture was then acquired by Kramarsky in questionable circumstances