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Harry Frank Guggenheim: The Collector Who Brought Giacometti to America
Alberto Giacometti’s portrait bust of his brother, Diego, was exhibited in the artist’s first US exhibition.
A mong the three remarkable works from the esteemed collection of Harry Frank Guggenheim on offer in The Modern Evening Auction is Alberto Giacometti’s Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego). The portrait of Diego Giacometti was acquired by Guggenheim soon after it was cast and lent to the artist’s first-ever museum exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1955.
In 1914, Alberto Giacometti first utilized his brother Diego as a model. A renowned designer in his own right, Diego Giacometti would also go on to become one of the great sculptor’s most significant subjects. By the 1950s, Diego had inspired numerous sculptures that bore a striking resemblance to both Alberto and Diego, lending these works a semi-autobiographical quality.
The sculptures featuring “knife-blade” heads, created during a discrete period in 1953-54, that are denoted by the thinness and frontal verticality of the face juxtaposed with an elongated profile are some of the most significant works ever created by Giacometti. As in his Grand tête mince, these iconic features are intensely encapsulated in the present work.
Alberto Giacometti moved to Paris in 1920, where Diego became his trusted studio assistant, helping with essential aspects of his work. Over time, Alberto shifted from his elongated post-war figures to more naturalistic sculptures, often working from memory. Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego) exemplifies this shift, with its rough, expressive surfaces capturing both the artist’s hand and the complexity of human presence. Giacometti’s work continues to challenge viewers' perception, blurring the line between material and form, distance and intimacy.
Soon after its conception and casting, Harry acquired the present cast of Giacometti's Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego) and lent it to an exhibition devoted to the artist’s work at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1955 – Giacometti’s first-ever museum exhibition, and also the Guggenheim’s first major exhibition dedicated to sculpture. It was a landmark moment for the artist’s lasting reputation in North America.
A force of nature in both the public and private spheres, Harry Frank Guggenheim embodied a unique blend of ambition, intellect and leadership that enabled him to distinguish himself in diplomacy, military service, business and philanthropy. Serving as a naval aviator in both world wars, and later as US Ambassador to Cuba from 1933 to 1934, he famously earned the trust and counsel of five US presidents.
Alongside Franz Marc’s Das Lange Gelbe Pferd, a vividly colored example of his most iconic subject, and Paul Gauguin’s La Femme noire, a key ceramic work, the three works on offer from The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation come to the market for the first time since they were acquired by Guggenheim nearly 70 years ago. They reflect the pioneering taste of a true Renaissance man whose legacy spans art, philanthropy, sport and beyond. Not only do the works showcase his discerning eye, but they also offer a rare glimpse into one of America’s most important collecting dynasties, illuminating the visionary tastes of the man who propelled the Guggenheim name into a new era, where it exemplified global innovation of the visual arts.
Throughout his life, Harry devoted himself to philanthropy of great impact and innovative scientific ventures, driven by a belief that wealth should be used to advance the progress of humanity. In keeping with his lasting legacy, proceeds of the sale will benefit The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, which was founded in 1929 and advances groundbreaking research on problems of violence, such as war, crime and human aggression, through vigorous scholarly inquiry.
