Donation of a painting by François Bonvin and a watercolour by Henry Monnier In memory of Robert Stoppenbach (1948–2020) The Fondation Custodia, which aims to serve the history of art, is an institution where many dealers like to share their love for works of art. Three of them – Jean-Pierre Selz, Jane Roberts and Robert Stoppenbach – were inspired by this place, united by a deep friendship. Together with Ger Luijten, our director, they have had several opportunities to exchange views on art, a shared passion that has now been crowned by two donations. On 26 December 2020, art dealer Bob Stoppenbach suddenly collapsed in the heart of London. To pay tribute to him and show his deep respect, his colleague Jean-Pierre Selz offered the Fondation Custodia a painting by François Bonvin. Entitled The Housekeeper and dated 1865, it depicts a cook in a domestic interior. Leaning over the meal she is preparing, she cuts a large loaf of bread. This character is typical of the popular figures whose everyday life François Bonvin was keen to portray. The painting also shows the extent to which his attention was drawn to the Dutch masters of the 17th century, on which he based his realistic approach. This interest in the art of the Dutch Golden Age echoes the core of the Fondation Custodia’s collection, which focuses as well on how it was perceived over the centuries. Another art dealer, Jane Roberts, has also decided to commemorate her friendship with Robert Stoppenbach by donating a watercolour by Henry Monnier to the Fondation Custodia, adding to the four sheets by the artist already present in the collection. Monnier was a colourful personality in the artistic and cultural milieu of the Butte de Montmartre. He was an author, stage director, songwriter and actor, as well as a skilled lithographer and draughtsman. This watercolour belongs to his series of ‘Salons sombres’, which the Goncourt brothers described “as silly conversations where nothing is said”. In it, Monnier depicted the mores – and boredom – of Parisian bourgeois life with his pinching humour. François Bonvin (1817-1887), The Housekeeper, 1865 Oil on canvas, 55,6 × 38,8 cmFondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris, inv. no. 2021-S.61 Henry Monnier (1799-1877), Portrait of a Group in an Interieur, 1870 Pen and brown ink, watercolour and gouache over a sketch in graphite, 233 × 139 mmFondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris, inv. no. 2021-T.73 “People may think that there is animosity between art dealers who hunt for treasures, but these donations nevertheless prove that there is a deep friendship between them. Also there are strong ties between the Fondation Custodia and dealers. Since the initiative of Jean-Pierre and Donatienne Selz, Jean-Pierre left us on 13 November 2021. We miss him after a life full of happiness, unimaginable discoveries and friendships. Goodbye Jean-Pierre!” Ger Luijten Together with François Delestre, Robert Stoppenbach established a gallery of modern paintings in Cork Street, Mayfair, London. For forty years, the two friends presented French paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries: important paintings by Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Henri Harpignies, Henri Fantin-Latour, Gustave Loiseau or Paul Signac, but also works by lesser-known artists such as François Bonvin, Louis Welden Hawkins, Maxime Dethomas or Ludovic Piette. Their expertise has been recognized over the years and their advice has been followed by the Tate Gallery, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Art Institute of Chicago. As key players in the art market, Robert Stoppenbach and François Delestre have also participated in numerous international fairs, including TEFAF.
Donation of a painting by François Bonvin and a watercolour by Henry Monnier In memory of Robert Stoppenbach (1948–2020) The Fondation Custodia, which aims to serve the history of art, is an institution where many dealers like to share their love for works of art. Three of them – Jean-Pierre Selz, Jane Roberts and Robert Stoppenbach – were inspired by this place, united by a deep friendship. Together with Ger Luijten, our director, they have had several opportunities to exchange views on art, a shared passion that has now been crowned by two donations. On 26 December 2020, art dealer Bob Stoppenbach suddenly collapsed in the heart of London. To pay tribute to him and show his deep respect, his colleague Jean-Pierre Selz offered the Fondation Custodia a painting by François Bonvin. Entitled The Housekeeper and dated 1865, it depicts a cook in a domestic interior. Leaning over the meal she is preparing, she cuts a large loaf of bread. This character is typical of the popular figures whose everyday life François Bonvin was keen to portray. The painting also shows the extent to which his attention was drawn to the Dutch masters of the 17th century, on which he based his realistic approach. This interest in the art of the Dutch Golden Age echoes the core of the Fondation Custodia’s collection, which focuses as well on how it was perceived over the centuries. Another art dealer, Jane Roberts, has also decided to commemorate her friendship with Robert Stoppenbach by donating a watercolour by Henry Monnier to the Fondation Custodia, adding to the four sheets by the artist already present in the collection. Monnier was a colourful personality in the artistic and cultural milieu of the Butte de Montmartre. He was an author, stage director, songwriter and actor, as well as a skilled lithographer and draughtsman. This watercolour belongs to his series of ‘Salons sombres’, which the Goncourt brothers described “as silly conversations where nothing is said”. In it, Monnier depicted the mores – and boredom – of Parisian bourgeois life with his pinching humour. François Bonvin (1817-1887), The Housekeeper, 1865 Oil on canvas, 55,6 × 38,8 cmFondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris, inv. no. 2021-S.61 Henry Monnier (1799-1877), Portrait of a Group in an Interieur, 1870 Pen and brown ink, watercolour and gouache over a sketch in graphite, 233 × 139 mmFondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris, inv. no. 2021-T.73 “People may think that there is animosity between art dealers who hunt for treasures, but these donations nevertheless prove that there is a deep friendship between them. Also there are strong ties between the Fondation Custodia and dealers. Since the initiative of Jean-Pierre and Donatienne Selz, Jean-Pierre left us on 13 November 2021. We miss him after a life full of happiness, unimaginable discoveries and friendships. Goodbye Jean-Pierre!” Ger Luijten Together with François Delestre, Robert Stoppenbach established a gallery of modern paintings in Cork Street, Mayfair, London. For forty years, the two friends presented French paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries: important paintings by Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Henri Harpignies, Henri Fantin-Latour, Gustave Loiseau or Paul Signac, but also works by lesser-known artists such as François Bonvin, Louis Welden Hawkins, Maxime Dethomas or Ludovic Piette. Their expertise has been recognized over the years and their advice has been followed by the Tate Gallery, the National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Art Institute of Chicago. As key players in the art market, Robert Stoppenbach and François Delestre have also participated in numerous international fairs, including TEFAF.