In Praise of the Body. Arts of Africa, Oceania and America.
| N° d'inventaire | 21991 |
| Format | 24.5 x 29 |
| Détails | 272 p., bound in cloth under dust jacket. |
| Publication | Paris, 2019 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9788874398997 |
While the history of Josette and Jean-Claude Weill's collection began with painting, their passionate quest for new forms quickly led them to embrace the infinite diversity of tribal art. Matured over the decades under the enthusiastic gaze of their son Jean-Pierre, their collection now includes more than 120 first-rate works from the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Several large groups emerge, reflecting the Weill family's penchant for bold, expressionist forms: Dogon and Tellem statues combining geometric shapes and textured surfaces, as well as Kongo power figures adorned with their magical powers. The collection also gives pride of place to expressive arts from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Melanesia. Among the most classic works are iconic pieces—such as the bena lulua statue belonging to Jacques Kerchache, the Fang reliquary figure by Edward Robinson, or the powerful biwat flute stopper from the Lemaire collection—which demonstrate both the Weills' sure taste and the keen eye they brought to bear on these foreign arts. A microcosm of the collection, a large group of highly refined ivories constitutes a third of the works assembled. This book will be an opportunity to unveil this Parisian collection shrouded in mystery, as remarkable as it is confidential. The publication's editor, Charles-Wesley Hourdé (an independent expert and researcher), wanted to highlight the richness and diversity of this exceptional collection. He has therefore surrounded himself with prestigious authors, whose notes will accompany each of the objects. These include Viviane Baeke (Africa Museum, Tervuren), Philippe Dagen (historian and art critic), Jean-Paul Colleyn (anthropologist), Bertrand Goy (author specializing in the Ivory Coast), Hélène Joubert (Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac), Hélène Leloup (art historian and antique dealer), Sean Mooney (The Rock Foundation, Houston) and Philippe Peltier (formerly Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac).
While the history of Josette and Jean-Claude Weill's collection began with painting, their passionate quest for new forms quickly led them to embrace the infinite diversity of tribal art. Matured over the decades under the enthusiastic gaze of their son Jean-Pierre, their collection now includes more than 120 first-rate works from the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. Several large groups emerge, reflecting the Weill family's penchant for bold, expressionist forms: Dogon and Tellem statues combining geometric shapes and textured surfaces, as well as Kongo power figures adorned with their magical powers. The collection also gives pride of place to expressive arts from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Melanesia. Among the most classic works are iconic pieces—such as the bena lulua statue belonging to Jacques Kerchache, the Fang reliquary figure by Edward Robinson, or the powerful biwat flute stopper from the Lemaire collection—which demonstrate both the Weills' sure taste and the keen eye they brought to bear on these foreign arts. A microcosm of the collection, a large group of highly refined ivories constitutes a third of the works assembled. This book will be an opportunity to unveil this Parisian collection shrouded in mystery, as remarkable as it is confidential. The publication's editor, Charles-Wesley Hourdé (an independent expert and researcher), wanted to highlight the richness and diversity of this exceptional collection. He has therefore surrounded himself with prestigious authors, whose notes will accompany each of the objects. These include Viviane Baeke (Africa Museum, Tervuren), Philippe Dagen (historian and art critic), Jean-Paul Colleyn (anthropologist), Bertrand Goy (author specializing in the Ivory Coast), Hélène Joubert (Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac), Hélène Leloup (art historian and antique dealer), Sean Mooney (The Rock Foundation, Houston) and Philippe Peltier (formerly Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac).