Encounters With Modern Art: The Reminiscences of Nannette F. Rothschild

This is a lovely book, a work of art in and of itself. From the cover with images of Brancusi's 'The Muse' and Mondrian's 'Tableau No. IV', through the full-colour plates, single-colour dividing pages, black-and-white personal photographs, gracious layout with generous white space, to the gold-on-black printed back cover, this book is a delight to read, a delight to look at, and a delight to hold. The story is really a trek through modern art in America and Europe, seen through the eyes of the Rothschilds, Herbert, Nannette and Judith. Judith Rothschild was a painter; her parents Herbert and Nannette were avid students, admirers and collectors of art, following their daughter's career as well as expanding beyond this to encompass the whole range of modern art. The Rothschilds built an impressive collection, supporting many artists and providing art for museums and exhibitions regularly. This was not just a passion for art, but also a building of personal relationships. 'Very often and not surprisingly, the passion for collecting art by living artists was (and still is) fueled by friendship with artists themselves.' The reminiscences of Nanette go through artist by artist - Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and many other artists are featured, together with a memory of special events and trips. There is a good combination of the personal and the artistic in these writings, a journal of very intimate appreciation. Finally, the Catalogue of the artworks from the Rothschilds' collections is a real treat. Herbert and Nannette left the bulk of their collection to their daughter Judith, with some items going to their other two children; Judith in turn left her collection (that of Herbert and Nannette together with pieces she had acquired herself) to a Foundation to support underappreciated American artists. This catalogue is a wonder to behold, with very high production values in the reprinting of artwork, including painting, sculpture, and other media. A wonderful collection.