Author Anne Sinclair has so many fascinating stories to tell… she is a political journalist, ex-wife of indicted French politician, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and granddaughter of Paul Rosenberg, the legendary art dealer. Sinclair recently focused in one fascinating aspect of her heritage, her grandfather. She uncovered a box filled with letters. “Curious in spite of myself,” she writes, “I plunged into these archives, in search of the story of my family. To find out who my mother’s father really was . . . a man hailed as a pioneer in the world of modern art, who then became a pariah in his own country during the Second World War. I was overcome with a desire to fit together the pieces of this French story of art and war.” In My Grandfather’s Gallery 21, rue La Boetie, she illuminates Rosenberg’s intriguing past, including his representation of our century’s most important Impressionist painters.
With a grandfather who counted Picasso, whom he nicknamed, “Pic”, as a close personal friend, Sinclair’s most vivid childhood memories are of spending time at the painter’s Southern France house in Mougins. Rosenberg also represented Matisse and Braque until the Nazis ascended to power and Rosenberg was forced to flee France in the 1940’s. Reopening a gallery in NYC allowed the Rosenbergs to, partially, reclaim their lives. They were able to reclaim many of their prized pieces which allowed Rosenberg’s gallery to claim immediate acclaim Nevertheless, despite many efforts, several key paintings in Rosenberg’s collection remained (and remain) missing. Having a perpetually positive attitude that’s gotten her through some very trying times, “Of course, the artworks were looted but, well, they didn’t die.” As this 3rd generation of Rosenbergs ages, it will likely fall to the 4th generation to find the last of the missing pieces.
This story is a personal journey of the Parisian art scene in it’s heyday. Sinclair’s accounts of Rosenberg’s personal correspondence brings the intimacy that sets it apart from other similar accounts. What a special family and how lucky are we that we have this memoir to reflect upon!
Paul Rosenberg with a Matisse in the 1930’s. The always elegant Rosenberg passed away when Sinclair was just 11.
Image courtesy of: The New York Times
A young Anne Sinclair remained close to Picasso after her grandfather’s death. Here, she’s with the artist posing in 1968.
Image courtesy of: The New York Times
Sinclair with Rosenberg in France prior to their forced relocation to Manhattan.
Image courtesy of: The New York Times
The interior of 21, rue La Boetie with several works by Picasso and Marie Laurencin on display. It is said that Rosenberg was omnipresent in his gallery, oftentimes taking inquisitive visitors to view his upstairs collection.
Image courtesy of: Looted Art