The Art Of Collecting

It may start with just one special piece that catches your eye and captures your heart, stirring an affection that quickly grows into an assemblage so dear, its sentimental value is beyond calculation. Whether it is a passion for exquisite linens, sterling silver, or fine English china--or simply the thrill of the hunt--that entices us to sift through old attics and antiques shops, estate sales, and European brocantes, we are kindred spirits, linked by an unbridled fervor for curating our favorite things.

Through intimate interviews with collectors, 'The Art of Collecting' unveils the passion behind the pursuit of art objects, with advice from experts, while demystifying the process of collecting.

"This book offers clear advice on how to navigate the contemporary art world, from assessing sales information and dealing with galleries to discovering new talent and accessing the best work."--P. [4] of cover.

Grounded in real-life stories, Art Collecting Today is the essential practical guide to today's art market. A lightly regulated industry with more than sixty billion dollars of annual sales, the art market is often opaque and confusing to even the most experienced collectors. But whether a seasoned collector, an uninitiated newcomer, or an art-world insider, readers will learn within these pages how the art marketplace works in practice and how to navigate it smartly. Those who may have been put off by art-world practices will finally feel they have the knowledge needed to participate freely and fully, and collectors will be able to pursue their passion with more confidence. Important topics covered include: How to evaluate, buy, and sell art while avoiding costly mistakes and time-consuming roadblocks How the market works in practice for essential artists like René Magritte, Christopher Wool, Amedeo Modigliani, and Yayoi Kusama How collectors can be taken advantage of, and the actions they should take to protect themselves Why tax laws in the United States reward "art investors" yet penalize "art collectors" How cultural property laws impact the market for works by such artists as Frida Kahlo and Andy Warhol Advice for new and prospective collectors Informed by close to one hundred interviews with collectors, lawyers, art advisors, gallerists, and auction specialists in the United States and Europe, as well as by the author's own experiences, Art Collecting Today offers a lively and thought-provoking analysis of the day-to-day workings at play today in the fine art marketplace.

Great Collectors of Our Time is the first major survey of contemporary collecting and collectors since Douglas Cooper's Great Private Collections, published in 1963. It examines many of the greatest collectors of our time in Europe, North America and the

"Over the last several years, collectors have come to the forefront of the art scene, becoming key figures, if not stealing the spotlight from curators and institutions. But speculation, stratospheric prices, opinionated leadership, and the spectacle of collecting are only some of the many facets of the current reality. For many collectors, contemporary art is essentially an aesthetic and intellectual adventure - thus the construction of each collection a personal journey and a singular statement. In an attempt to map the contours of this archipelago, the present volume gathers interviews with 40 collectors from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, revealing some recurring motivations while emphasizing differences of approach." --Book Jacket.

While earlier studies have focused predominantly on artist François Boucher’s artistic style and identity, this book presents the first full-length interdisciplinary study of Boucher’s prolific collection of around 13,500 objects including paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, porcelain, shells, minerals, and other imported curios. It discusses the types of objects he collected, the networks through which he acquired them, and their spectacular display in his custom-designed studio at the Louvre, where he lived and worked for nearly two decades. This book explores the role his collection played in the development of his art, his studio, his friendships, and the burgeoning market for luxury goods in mid-eighteenth-century France. In doing so, it sheds new light on the relationship between Boucher’s artistic and collecting practices, which attracted both praise and criticism from period observers. The book will appeal to scholars working in art history, museum studies, and French history.

The Art of Collecting Photography argues that establishing a collection of photography is an art in itself. Using examples from some of the best photographers in the world - from early masters such as Henry Talbot to modern classics from contemporaries such as Andreas Gursky and Man Ray - The Art of Collecting Photography covers all the aspects of successfully building a photographic collection. Whether intended for the amateur or professional collector, this book forms a comprehensive, exhaustive and easy-to-follow resource.