Author Description

A stunning publication with over 300 illustrations, Paintings, Furniture, and Decorative Arts from the Kaufman Collection, captures the full scope of the remarkable collecting adventures of George M. and Linda H. Kaufman. In 1986, the National Gallery of Art mounted an exhibition of the Kaufman's extraordinary collection of American furniture. The scholarly publication accompanying that exhibition has served as a model for this second volume. This book, with all new photography, includes pieces of furniture that Linda and George acquired after 1986. Following George's death in 2001, Linda has continued to acquire works that both expand and enhance the quality and character of the collection. Notably, this volume is more inclusive than the first. In addition to significant acquisitions of American furniture, it features other important aspects of the Kaufman collection, including outstanding Dutch paintings, delicate French and American watercolors, rare American, European and China trade porcelains, and exceptional silver form brass. Linda and George always prioritized quality and condition when considering an acquisition. Understanding an object's history and provenance was also of key significance. While Linda and George learned by looking and studying, they also sought the counsel of friends and colleagues, many of whom, often leading specialists in their fields, have graciously written scholarly entries for this publication. Linda and George have always enjoyed living with the works they have collected, and some views of rooms in their home can be seen in this volume. The Kaufmans, however, are philanthropists at heart, and they have been incredibly generous in donating major works of art to institutions where they can be enjoyed by a broader public. Most of the outstanding objects in this publication are promised gifts to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.