Ambroise Vollard, Visionary Art Dealer (from Renoir to Picasso)

Gilles Genty, art historian

Behind the anecdote that Vollard (1866-1939) made his fortune by sleeping, as visitors to his gallery often found him dozing, there is a story of an audacious art lover. Born in Réunion Island, the oldest in a family of 10 children, he began studying law, then started to collect, and eventually became a dealer thanks to his passion. Exhibiting impressionist painters, he was one of the first to believe in Cézanne, and bought his paintings by the dozen. Above all, he was attentive to all the new movements; he was a privileged dealer for the Nabis (Bonnard, Vuillard, Vallotton, etc.), he noticed the genius of the Fauves early on, and did not hesitate to commit himself to the Cubists, with Picasso at the forefront. He also financed the publication of prints and books illustrated by his favourite artists. The extent of his collection, dispersed in 1939, is still unknown to us today!

Language: French. Online

In partnership with the Toronto Public Library.

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