The Michael Hall Collection - Baldwin 64-65 - The... · The Michael Hall Collection American born...
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The Michael Hall Collection American born art collector and connoisseur, Michael Hall, is to sell his exceptional collection of renaissance and later medals in three parts through London based coin dealer and numismatic auction house, A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. Michael Hall has a phenomenal expertise and an enormous breadth of knowledge and appreciation of art across the spectrum. He has inspired top curators and helped enhance a surprising number of museum collections with subject matter ranging from European tapestry to classical bronze sculpture. He has organised exhibitions of his various collections for many years, his most recent being the exhibition of Giambolognas’ sculptures (www.giambologna.com ), due to take place in Miami on the 20 th February 2010. The Michael Hall Medal Collection is the product of over 50 years’ experience and an exceptional interest in art and antiques. The collection starts with the earliest appearance of medals as a portrait art form in 15 th century Renaissance Italy and charts the development of this artistic medium over several centuries into northern Europe. It continues to follow the evolution into a fashion for large series of complimentary medals commemorating people and events from the Popes to the Sun King, from the naval engagements between Britain and Holland to the Eternal Peace Treaty between Russia and Poland His interest in the artistic nature of numismatics began in the early 1930s and was heavily influenced by his father who introduced him to many of the great exhibitions that have inspired his collections of art and medals. From early childhood Michael collected coinage and was inspired by sculptural artists. He was drawn to the truly international style (French but still so very American) of American born memorial artist and medallist Augustus Saint-Gaudens who famously designed the iconic twenty-dollar “double-eagle” for the US mint in 1905-1907, which is still considered the most attractive American coin. Michael has owned several versions of his Diana in bronze which he describes as ‘svelte and magical’ as well as his medallion of Robert Louis Stevenson that depicts an ailing Stevenson propped up in bed writing. He and his father continued to collect American coins in all denominations for more than twenty years. In 1945 Michael went to study at UCLA, but really only ever wanted to establish a career in the film industry. His first job was to be coaching Orson Welles to speak with a proper German accent for his part in The Stranger, released in 1946. Shortly afterwards Michael was cast in his most famous role as the son of Frederic March and Myrna Loy in the film "Best Years of Our Lives". On the day of the premier he remembers an invitation for his father and himself to join President Harry S. Truman for lunch at the White House where he had a charming encounter with Mamie Eisenhower who, afterwards, dropped the duo at the National Gallery. He describes this as ‘a magic and momentous day in my young life’, and one that would shape his numismatic future. It was there that Michael first encountered the magnificent Kress medal collection. He and his father were drawn to a dark room sparkling with captivating medals of the early Italian Renaissance. From then on his attention and passion guided him towards collecting these wonderful miniature masterpieces of sculpture. They stayed for hours gazing at the collection until the museum closed. 11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450 A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
Transcript of The Michael Hall Collection - Baldwin 64-65 - The... · The Michael Hall Collection American born...
The Michael Hall Collection
American born art collector and connoisseur, Michael Hall, is to sell his exceptional collection of renaissance and later medals in three parts through London based coin dealer and numismatic auction house, A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. Michael Hall has a phenomenal expertise and an enormous breadth of knowledge and appreciation of art across the spectrum. He has inspired top curators and helped enhance a surprising number of museum collections with subject matter ranging from European tapestry to classical bronze sculpture. He has organised exhibitions of his various collections for many years, his most recent being the exhibition of Giambolognas’ sculptures (www.giambologna.com), due to take place in Miami on the 20th February 2010. The Michael Hall Medal Collection is the product of over 50 years’ experience and an exceptional interest in art and antiques. The collection starts with the earliest appearance of medals as a portrait art form in 15th century Renaissance Italy and charts the development of this artistic medium over several centuries into northern Europe. It continues to follow the evolution into a fashion for large series of complimentary medals commemorating people and events from the Popes to the Sun King, from the naval engagements between Britain and Holland to the Eternal Peace Treaty between Russia and Poland His interest in the artistic nature of numismatics began in the early 1930s and was heavily influenced by his father who introduced him to many of the great exhibitions that have inspired his collections of art and medals. From early childhood Michael collected coinage and was inspired by sculptural artists. He was drawn to the truly international style (French but still so very American) of American born memorial artist and medallist Augustus Saint-Gaudens who famously designed the iconic twenty-dollar “double-eagle” for the US mint in 1905-1907, which is still considered the most attractive American coin. Michael has owned several versions of his Diana in bronze which he describes as ‘svelte and magical’ as well as his medallion of Robert Louis Stevenson that depicts an ailing Stevenson propped up in bed writing. He and his father continued to collect American coins in all denominations for more than twenty years. In 1945 Michael went to study at UCLA, but really only ever wanted to establish a career in the film industry. His first job was to be coaching Orson Welles to speak with a proper German accent for his part in The Stranger, released in 1946. Shortly afterwards Michael was cast in his most famous role as the son of Frederic March and Myrna Loy in the film "Best Years of Our Lives". On the day of the premier he remembers an invitation for his father and himself to join President Harry S. Truman for lunch at the White House where he had a charming encounter with Mamie Eisenhower who, afterwards, dropped the duo at the National Gallery. He describes this as ‘a magic and momentous day in my young life’, and one that would shape his numismatic future. It was there that Michael first encountered the magnificent Kress medal collection. He and his father were drawn to a dark room sparkling with captivating medals of the early Italian Renaissance. From then on his attention and passion guided him towards collecting these wonderful miniature masterpieces of sculpture. They stayed for hours gazing at the collection until the museum closed.
11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
The collection included pieces by the celebrated artist and medallist, Pisanello. Michael describes seeing the artists work for the first time, ‘Pisanello's genius, his brilliant use of perspective in miniature bas relief pleased us more than any American coin ever had.’ Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello, is heralded as the originator of the modern medal and is perhaps its greatest advocate of that form of art. Born in Italy in 1395 he was one of the most eminent painters of the early Renaissance and is famous mainly for his portraits and depictions of animals. A highly regarded artist of his time and the first and most notable commemorative portrait medallist, his style was in many ways ahead of its time. Although much of his artwork has perished over the years many of his drawings and much of his medal work has endured. His style is described as refined and subtle and he is noted for his skills of observation. One of the most important pieces to be included in the first auction of the Hall Collection will be Pisanello’s cast bronze portrait medal of Cecilia Gonzaga. Dating from 1447, the medal of the 21 year old Cecilia Gonzaga shows his only female subject. On the reverse, in a moonlit landscape, she is depicted near-naked as the figure of Innocence who, as a virgin, is able to tame the Unicorn. It is an image filled with symbolism – Graham Pollard in the new (2008) catalogue of the collection of the National Gallery in Washington, calls it a “gracious and charming conceit”. This stunning medal was selected by the art historian Stephen K. Scher for the 1994/5 touring exhibition, The Currency of Fame (as were four further medals in the collection). More details of the book and the collection can be found at www.baldwin.co.uk/michaelhall Baldwin’s are expecting the medal to sell for a figure in excess of £65,000. The majority of the collection of 2500 medals was formed in the 1960s and ‘70s, a period when Hall was living for much of the time in London. The medals were purchased from the dealers of the day, in London and other European centres, rather than at auction and include a group of Florentine Baroque medals that will be seen as a match to the Lankheit Collection sold by Morton & Eden (May 2003). Over the ensuing years the collection has remained mostly unseen. Michael Hall gifted most of his British medals to the Los Angeles County Museum some years ago, though some pieces were retained and will be offered in the three auctions. The collection is, by far, the largest sale of Renaissance pieces since the Max and Maurice Rosenheim (Sotheby 1923) and Henry Oppenheimer (Christie’s 1936) sales and contains significant rarities. The Renaissance section itself is comprehensive but beyond that the scale of European medallic art (from later Italy, France, Germany, the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands) being offered is significant. Baldwin’s predicts a number of established collectors, and quite a few new ones, will take advantage of the opportunity to buy from this sale. Dealers across Europe and in the US will compete to acquire pieces from this sort after collection that isn’t expected to be seen at auction again for many years. Michael Hall has commented on this landmark sale ‘What a great gift it has been to learn about history, the passage of time depicted with legendary persons. Whether cast or struck, medals have augmented my interest in sculpture of all origins and periods. For this I am eternally grateful. It has been an education in the history of the western world. Now, at 83, I would like to share my wondrous works of art by disseminating them to passionate collectors at auction through the offices of A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd.’ The first part of the auction is scheduled for the 4th May 2010 and online bidding via www.the-saleroom.com will be available for those bidders who cannot attend the sale. For more information about The Michael Hall Collection please contact Graham Byfield on +44 (0)20 7930 6879 or at [email protected] For press enquiries please contact Caroline Newton on +44 (0)20 7930 9808 or at [email protected]
Highlights From the Auction Include:
Pisanello’s cast bronze portrait medal of Cecilia Gonzaga. Dating from 1447
1687, Venice/Turkey/Nuremburg, Marc Antonio Giustiniani (1684-1688), The Surrender and Hommage of Mustapha Pasha and his brother Hassan Pasha to the Doge, oval cast
Gilt Bronze Medal, by Georg Hautsch,
In 1685 a mercenary army financed by Venice and under the command of Francesco Morosini (later Doge), occupied the Morea – the Peloponnese. Athens was captured in 1687 (it was during this siege that a Turkish arms store within the Acropolis
exploded doing considerable damage to the Parthenon). Later, during the peace negotiations, Venice agreed to return Livadia to the Turks, but retained the Morea. Shortly after their defeat in August 1687, the Turkish commanders, Mustapha Pasha of Nauplia and his brother Hassan Pasha, fearful of reprisals, surrendered with their families, to Marc Antonio Giustiniani – as
depicted on the medal.
11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
Saxony, Johann Friedrich (1532-1547), Silver Medal 1535 by H. Reinhardt.
Antonio Abondio Caterina Riva, Ae uniface portrait medal, half figure of the sitter wearing pearl necklace and arm-garter, and holding lap-dog, her right breast bare, her left hand at her bosom
adjusting her gown CATHRI-NA RIVA around AN(tonius AB(ondius) on the right. 11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
Louis XIV (1638-1715), Parcel Gilt Medal, 1671.
Louis XIV (1638-1715), Parcel Gilt Bronze Medal, 1694.
11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
11 Adelphi Terrace, London, WC2N 6BJ Tel: +44 (0)207 930 6879 Fax: +44 (0)207 930 9450
A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd. is a Noble Investments (UK) Plc company
Notes to the Editor:
• The Kress Medal Collections was formed by Gustave Dreyfus and first displayed in public in 1931. It was purchased (and therefore, remarkably, kept intact) for the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and it is deemed the finest collection that has ever been in the hands of a private collector. It has always been housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington and is a phenomenal collection of medals that are of artistic importance and not just historical or archaeological interest. It is easy to see the appeal of this outstanding collection for the young Michael Hall, as Dreyfus had a keen appreciation of all things beautiful and only purchased medals of exceptional artistic superiority which can be seen in the precision of his choices. A German critic of the time described the medallic art as ‘the expression of the quintessence of the spirit of that age’.
• Established in 1872 A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd has over 100 years experience in serving the numismatic community.
• Baldwin’s auction department was established in 1993 and has grown to hold between ten and twelve sales annually in London, New York and Hong Kong and specialise in all areas of Numismatics.
