annieb123's Review of Hollywood Arensberg - Avant-Garde Collecting in Midcentury L.A.

by Mark Nelson, William H. Sherman, and Ellen Hoobler

This comprehensive reconstruction and interpretation of Louise and Walter Arensberg's groundbreaking collection of modern and pre-Columbian art takes readers room by room, wall by wall, object by object through the couple's Los Angeles home in which their collection was displayed.

Following the Armory Show of 1913, Louise and Walter Arensberg began assembling one of the most important private collections of art in the United States, as well as the world's largest private library of works by and about the philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. By the time Louise and Walter died--in 1953 and 1954, respectively--they had acquired some four thousand rare books and manuscripts and nearly one thousand works of art, including world-class specimens of Cubism, Surrealism, and Primitivism, the bulk of Marcel Duchamp's oeuvre, and hundreds of pre-Columbian objects. These exceptional works filled nearly all available space in every room of their house--including the bathrooms.

The Arensbergs have long had a central role in the histories of Modernism and collecting, but images of their collection in situ have never been assembled or examined comprehensively until now. Presenting new research on how the Arensbergs acquired pre-Columbian art and featuring never-before-seen images, Hollywood Arensberg demonstrates the value of seeing the Arensbergs' collection as part of a single vision, framed by a unique domestic space at the heart of Hollywood's burgeoning artistic scene.

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Hollywood Arensberg is a beautifully curated and meticulously detailed retrospective look at the collection amassed during the lifetimes of Louise and Walter Arensberg. Due out 20th Oct 2020 from Getty Publications, it's 448 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

This is an immersive virtual tour - room by room, piece by piece, of the Arensbergs vast and important collection of pre-Columbian and modern art, and Francis Bacon material. The photographs are stunning and show (in situ) an almost unimaginable wealth of discernment and finesse in display. As I was flipping through the pages, I found myself wondering if the people who lived with this stunning abundance day in and day out ever became inured to the beauty in which they were surrounded.

Although the photographs are informative, beautiful and almost overwhelmingly detailed, it was the expert and erudite commentary which really elevated the whole for me. The book is filled with good commentary on the items and curation and history of the collection and collaboration of the Arensbergs and the Stendahls next door. The authors are experts in their fields and I enjoyed the essays as much (maybe more) than the physical photos - it felt like having a very good private docent walking me through a museum.

My personal interest was mostly for the Bacon collection and the pre-Columbian artifacts, but I came away with a deeper appreciation of the modern arts portions of the collection as well. The entire book is meticulously annotated and the bibliography and links lists contain a wealth of information for further reading.

This is an impressive, academically rigorous, and layman accessible look at art collection and curation whose likes we won't see again.

Five stars. This would make a superlative selection for art aficionados, students, design/interior artists, library use, or as a beautiful coffee-table book to enjoy and revisit. This one has high "re-readability".

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Hollywood Arensberg - Avant-Garde Collecting in Midcentury L.A.

by Mark Nelson, William H. Sherman, and Ellen Hoobler

Reviewed by annieb123 on Sep 6, 2020

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