Albert BENAMOU
ORIENTALIST AND SYMBOLIST PAINTING FROM 1820 TO 1914 - SCULPTURE FROM THE 19TH TO EARLY 20TH CENTURIES
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Auguste Rodin - Eve at the Rock, small model 1881 Sculpture, Artist's plaster (detail) © Albert Benamou, Paris
The Expert
Albert Benamou has been active for over 50 years as a dealer, expert, and advisor to major collectors. A former student of the École du Louvre, he opened the Tanagra gallery at 138 rue Saint Honoré in Paris in 1973. He specialized in a period completely neglected at the time: painting and sculpture from the late 19th century, including academic artists—whom he called the perfectionists—orientalists, military painting, and symbolist and Rosicrucian movements. He was one of the first experts to introduce these artists to the French market. His predilection for sculpture led him to collaborate on the Catalogue raisonné of Antoine-Louis Barye with Stuart Pivar, and to authenticate and offer sculptures by Jean-Léon Gérôme, Félix-Joseph Barrias, Emmanuel Fremiet, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Jules Dalou, Camille Claudel, Rembrandt Bugatti, and especially Auguste Rodin at public auction. He later became the partner of Jean-Marie Rossi at the Aveline gallery, which entrusted him with the 19th-century department. Together, they revived the furniture from the universal exhibitions, rare objects, furniture, and painting from the very rich fin de siècle. Later, Albert Benamou ventured into contemporary art and the promotion of young artists, while continuing to share his passion with Véronique Maxé. Together, they opened a gallery at 33 avenue Matignon in Paris and a sculpture advocacy program, an association offering visits and lectures. [caption id="attachment_3975" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Albert Benamou © the expert, Paris 2024[/caption]
Exhibitions devoted to Carpeaux, Bourdelle, and Rodin confirmed his commitment to sculpture. With a desire to pass on his knowledge, he taught at IESA (The International School of Cultural and Art Market Professions) in Paris, while continuing his activities as an expert, particularly for Auguste Rodin, whom he champions with collectors and auctioneers at public sales.
His rigorous analytical methods require extensive research, both technical and historical; he measures each piece, methodically compares dimensions, and observes the fineness of execution, signatures, dedications, the quality of castings, and that of patinas.
Finally, with each examination of a reference work, he supplements his information by consulting museum archives enriched with scientific exchanges with curators and specialists.
The verification and diligent control of provenances complete his investigative work. His precise methods, experience, and the multiplicity of his comparisons attest to his great expertise and knowledge of 19th-century sculpture. Contact
Albert BENAMOU
18 Boulevard Georges Seurat
92200 NEUILLY SUR SEINE
+33 (0)6 07 01 19 18
albertbenamou@gmail.com
[UFE number : 160]
