David David-Weill
David David-Weill | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | July 7, 1952 (aged 80) Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, France |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, art collector |
| Known for | Chairman of Lazard Frères, extensive art collection |
David David-Weill (August 30, 1871 – July 7, 1952) was a French-American financier who served as chairman of Lazard Frères in Paris and was renowned for his extensive art collection. During the Second World War, the Nazis confiscated more than 2,000 artworks from his holdings. He was a significant benefactor to leading museums in both France and the United States and supported numerous academic institutions.
Early life and family
David-Weill was born in San Francisco on August 30, 1871, to Julie (née Cahn) and Alexandre Weill (1834–1906). His father was connected to the founders of Lazard Frères & Co., a banking firm created by three Jewish brothers from France. The family had emigrated to California during the Franco-Prussian War, joining Alexandre’s brother Raphaël Weill who resided there. They returned to France approximately in 1883. David-Weill received his education at the Lycée Condorcet followed by studies at the École Libre des Sciences Politiques. In 1897, he wed Flora Raphaël; together they had seven children, among them prominent individuals such as Pierre David-Weill and Jean David-Weill.
Banking career
Following his academic training and military duties, David-Weill entered Lazard Frères and eventually rose to become its chairman. In 1935, he was appointed as a regent of the Banque de France.
Collecting
David-Weill’s passion for collecting began early in his life, encompassing paintings, drawings, miniatures, sculptures, furniture, silver objects, and other artistic items. He held leadership roles including president of the Réunion des Musées Nationaux and vice president of the Société des amis du Louvre.
In 1931, he transferred a portion of his collection to Anglo-Continental Art, Inc., a British holding company under Canadian ownership that he controlled.
Toward the end of 1940, David-Weill arranged for twenty-six crates containing paintings and antiquities to be sent to Lisbon with the intent of exporting them to New York aboard the SS Excalibur. These were meant for sale through the Wildensteins as assets of Anglo-Continental Art. However, U.S. Treasury authorities froze these assets due to their French wartime provenance, placing any proceeds into a blocked account.
During World War II, Nazi forces seized 2,687 pieces from David-Weill’s collection within France. Numerous items, including Henri Fantin-Latour’s Self-Portrait, were recovered by the Monuments Men and repatriated to France for restitution purposes. Nonetheless, some works remain missing and were catalogued in the 1947 Répertoire des biens spoliés en France durant la guerre 1939-1945.
Later in his life, David-Weill contributed over 2,000 objects to museums and universities internationally such as the Guimet Museum, the Louvre, and institutions located in New York, Hamburg, Leiden, Honolulu, and Stockholm. His gifts included Chinese bronzes donated to the Musée Guimet, cloisonné pieces given to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, as well as manuscripts like Eugène Delacroix’s diary presented to the Institut national d'histoire de l'art.
Death
David-Weill passed away in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris on July 7, 1952. Portions of his art collection were sold at auction in 1970.
Honors
- In 1934, David-Weill was inducted into the Académie des beaux-arts.
- In recognition of his contributions to the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, Avenue David-Weill in the 14th arrondissement of Paris was named after him in 1960.