Jump to content

Arthur Tooth & Sons: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 7: Line 7:


==Career==
==Career==
After his marriage to Esther Hazeltine, Carstairs began working for his father-in-law (Charles Field Hazeltine) at Hazeltine Gallery in [[Pittsburgh]].<ref> McIntosh, 1997, p. 113.</ref>. In around 1894, Carstairs moved to [[New York| New York City]] and began working for [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]] where he first made contact with [[Henry Clay Frick]]<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 173.</ref>. In 1897, [[Knoedler | Knoedler & Co.]] opened a branch at 432 Wood Street in [[Pittsburgh]], with Carstairs in charge. Back in Pittsburgh, Carstairs began promoting [[Old Master]] paintings to Pittsburgh's industrial rich.<ref> Cannadine, 2006, p. 129.</ref> From Pittsburgh, Carstairs moved to [[England]] in 1908 to lead Knoedler's [London] branch at 15 [[Bond Street| Old Bond Street]].<ref> Bailey, 2006, p. 21.</ref> <ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.</ref> Knoedler's [[London]] branch was opened in 1902, but it was Carstair's influence which reorineted the gallery's focus from contemporary Parisian artists to [[Old Master]] paintings.<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.</ref> From [[London]], Carstairs continued to supply American clients with European [[Old Master]] paintings. The outbreak of [[World War 1]] interrupted international trade, but also lead to the movement of many Old Master Art works to the United States due to concerns for the safety of many art works. This movement of art works was advantageous, both to American dealers such as [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]] and collectors such as [[Henry Clay Frick]].<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.</ref> In 1915, Carstairs stated, "England acquired her great Masterpieces during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars and now America's opportunity has come." <ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.</ref>
After his marriage to Esther Hazeltine, Carstairs began working for his father-in-law (Charles Field Hazeltine) at Hazeltine Gallery in [[Pittsburgh]].<ref> McIntosh, 1997, p. 113.</ref>. In around 1894, Carstairs moved to [[New York| New York City]] and began working for [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]] where he first made contact with [[Henry Clay Frick]]<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 173.</ref>. In 1897, [[Knoedler | Knoedler & Co.]] opened a branch at 432 Wood Street in [[Pittsburgh]], with Carstairs in charge. Back in Pittsburgh, Carstairs began promoting [[Old Master]] paintings to Pittsburgh's industrial rich.<ref> Cannadine, 2006, p. 129.</ref> From Pittsburgh, Carstairs moved to [[England]] in 1908 to lead Knoedler's [[London]] branch at 15 [[Bond Street| Old Bond Street]].<ref> Bailey, 2006, p. 21.</ref> <ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.</ref> Knoedler's [[London]] branch was opened in 1902, but it was Carstairs' influence which reorineted the gallery's focus from contemporary Parisian artists to [[Old Master]] paintings.<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.</ref> From [[London]], Carstairs continued to supply American clients with European [[Old Master]] paintings. The outbreak of [[World War 1]] interrupted international trade, but also lead to the movement of many Old Master Art works to the United States due to concerns for the safety of many art works. This movement of art works was advantageous, both to American dealers such as [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]] and collectors such as [[Henry Clay Frick]].<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.</ref> In 1915, Carstairs stated, "England acquired her great Masterpieces during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars and now America's opportunity has come." <ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.</ref>


In 1928, upon Roland Knoedler's retirement, Charles Carstairs, his son Carroll Carstairs, Charles Henschel (Knoedler's nephew), and Carmen Mesmore took up the management of the [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]]<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 268.</ref>. Charles Carstairs acted as chairman of the board at [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]]. <ref> McIntosh,1997, p. 113 </ref>
In 1928, upon Roland Knoedler's retirement, Charles Carstairs, his son Carroll Carstairs, Charles Henschel (Knoedler's nephew), and Carmen Mesmore took up the management of the [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]]<ref> Saltzman, 2008, p. 268.</ref>. Charles Carstairs acted as chairman of the board at [[Knoedler| Knoedler & Co.]]. <ref> McIntosh,1997, p. 113 </ref>

Revision as of 19:42, 21 July 2015

This sandbox is in the article namespace. Either move this page into your userspace, or remove the {{User sandbox}} template. Charles Carstairs (August 1865 - July 1928)[1] was an American art dealer who encouraged the sale of European Old Master paintings to American clients[2]. He worked closely with Henry Clay Frick, an industrial magnate and was responsible for Frick's acquisition of the 'Ilchester Rembrandt' in 1906. [3]

Early Life

Carstairs was born in Philadelphia on August 3rd 1865, the 3rd son of James Carstairs and Mary White Carstairs (nee Haddock).[4]

Career

After his marriage to Esther Hazeltine, Carstairs began working for his father-in-law (Charles Field Hazeltine) at Hazeltine Gallery in Pittsburgh.[5]. In around 1894, Carstairs moved to New York City and began working for Knoedler & Co. where he first made contact with Henry Clay Frick[6]. In 1897, Knoedler & Co. opened a branch at 432 Wood Street in Pittsburgh, with Carstairs in charge. Back in Pittsburgh, Carstairs began promoting Old Master paintings to Pittsburgh's industrial rich.[7] From Pittsburgh, Carstairs moved to England in 1908 to lead Knoedler's London branch at 15 Old Bond Street.[8] [9] Knoedler's London branch was opened in 1902, but it was Carstairs' influence which reorineted the gallery's focus from contemporary Parisian artists to Old Master paintings.[10] From London, Carstairs continued to supply American clients with European Old Master paintings. The outbreak of World War 1 interrupted international trade, but also lead to the movement of many Old Master Art works to the United States due to concerns for the safety of many art works. This movement of art works was advantageous, both to American dealers such as Knoedler & Co. and collectors such as Henry Clay Frick.[11] In 1915, Carstairs stated, "England acquired her great Masterpieces during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars and now America's opportunity has come." [12]

In 1928, upon Roland Knoedler's retirement, Charles Carstairs, his son Carroll Carstairs, Charles Henschel (Knoedler's nephew), and Carmen Mesmore took up the management of the Knoedler & Co.[13]. Charles Carstairs acted as chairman of the board at Knoedler & Co.. [14]

Relationship with Henry Clay Frick

Carstairs acted as Frick's preferred dealer for some time. In his later years, Frick was increasingly influenced by Joseph Duveen, however, the large quantity of Old Master Paintings in Frick's collection demonstrates Carstair's influence on Frick's taste. In 1908, Frick wrote in a letter to Carstairs "there is no-one whose judgment of the beautiful I have more confidence in than yours". [15] In his relocation from Pittsburgh to New York, Frick was thrown into an increasingly competitive environment of conspicuous consumption [16] . Carstairs turned Frick's attention to increasingly expensive Old Masters paintings as well as artworks that carried social prestige, such as, aristrocatic portraits and encouraged Frick to invest in art as a means of bolstering his reputation. [17]

The two remained close friends over Frick's lifetime. Not only did Carstairs aid in the designs for Frick's East 70th Street mansion [18] but he also acted as an honorary pallbearer at Frick's funeral.[19]

Personal Life

In 1886, Carstairs married Esther Holmes Hazeltine (29th April 1864 - 15 January 1907). [20]. Carstairs and Hazeltine had four children, Charles Hazeltine Carstairs (August 1886 – 26 October 1919), Carroll Chevalier Carstairs (20 March 1888 – 2 October 1948), James Stewart Carstairs (2 June 1890 – 20 September 1932) and Elizabeth “Lily” Haseltine Carstairs (2 November 1892 – April 1977).

Charles Carstairs died of a heart attack in 1928. [21]

References

  1. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 264.
  2. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.
  3. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 181
  4. ^ Jordan, 1911, p. 874.
  5. ^ McIntosh, 1997, p. 113.
  6. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 173.
  7. ^ Cannadine, 2006, p. 129.
  8. ^ Bailey, 2006, p. 21.
  9. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.
  10. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 170.
  11. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.
  12. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 242.
  13. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 268.
  14. ^ McIntosh,1997, p. 113
  15. ^ Bailey, 2006, p. 70.
  16. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 173.
  17. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 162.
  18. ^ Bailey, 2006, p. 70.
  19. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 264.
  20. ^ Jordan, 1911, p. 874.
  21. ^ Saltzman, 2008, p. 264.

Bibliography

  • Bailey, Colin B., Building The Frick Collection: An Introduction to the House and Its Collections, New York, NY, The Frick Collection, 2006
  • Cannadine, David, Mellon: An American Life, New York, NY, Random House Inc., 2006
  • Jordan, John W., Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, vol. I, New York, NY, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1911
  • McIntosh, DeCourcy E., "Demand and Supply: The Pittsburgh Art Trade and M. Knoedler & Co.",Collecting in the Gilded Age: Art Patronage in Pittsburgh, 1890-1910, Pittsburgh, PA, Frick Art and Historical Centre, 1997
  • Saltzman, Cynthia. Old Masters, New World: America's Raid on Europe's Great Pictures, 1880 - World War I New York, NY.: Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 2008.

Further Reading

  • Weisberg, Gabriel, 'Collecting in the Gilded Age: Art Patronage in Pittsburgh, 1890-1910, Pittsburgh, PA, Frick Art and Historical Centre, 1997
  • Reist, Dr. Inge, British Models of Art Collecting and the American Response: Reflections Across the Pond, New York, NY, The Frick Collection, 2014
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Tooth_%26_Sons&oldid=672474418"