Nélie et Édouard André et le commerce de l’art italien au XIXe siècle

Résumé 0

Édouard and Nélie André’s collection of Italian art constitutes one of the rare private collections in France that has remained intact to this day. The André couple began their frequent voyages in Italy in 1881. In each city they visited, they developed ties with the most important art merchants of the period, who provided them with the most beautiful masterpieces. While their first purchases demonstrated trials and errors in Italian art, as the years went by, the André couple eventually could be counted among the most important European collectors that any art dealer must of necessity count among his clients. Italian politics post-Risorgimento and the absence of laws protecting national heritage undoubtedly contributed to the abundance of works of art suddenly available on the art marker. An overall examination of the invoices confirms that between 1865 and 1912, Édouard and Nélie André spent an estimated sum of 5 115 859 francs for the acquisition of works of art. Of this 3 092 926 francs was spent on Italian works. In the context of the period, this is a very important amount, aiming at constituting one of the most beautiful collections of Italian art in France.