Jacques Doucet's
last heirs were his great nephew, Jean Angladon and his
wife Paulette Martin, both artists and art lovers themselves,
who then also became collectors. Two rooms hold the works
acquired by the donors as of 1968. Paulette Martin's taste
for religious art led her to purchase two medieval sculptures
which are shown among the Renaissance furnishings and
portraits, and 17th century paintings.
17th
century
The
red room displays a group of works from the 17th century
- a still life by Pierre Dupuis, a large painting of the
Last Supper by an anonymous artist, a genre scene by Van
der
Lamen, a landscape from the Franckental School, and, among
the period furniture, a two-piece buffet attributed to
Pierre Sambin.
18th
century
Chardin,
Joseph Vernet, Hubert Robert, Sir Thomas Lawrence
"Intoxicated" with the 18th century discovered
in visiting Degas' collection, Jacques Doucet willingly
collected 18th century art, going along with the taste
of Parisian society whose recognition he sought. He
created an outstanding collection, and the works remaining
at the Angladon museum testify to the quality - paintings,
drawings, signed furniture (Jacob, Tillard, Lelarge...)
and many art objects.
19e
siècle
By visiting
Degas' studio and through his first purchases from Degas
(Dancers and Woman Ironing), Jacques Doucet got to know
the Impressionists, whose work he admired all his life.
Such major works as Still Life with Pitcher by Cezanne,
painted at the famous Doctor Gachet's house in Auvers
sur Oise , Railroad Cars by Van Gogh, painted in Arles
in August 1888, and Door Ajar by Vuillard, which Doucet
discovered in Paris in the early 20th century, were
kept totally private inside the family. Doucet's donations
to the Louvre, such as The Snake Charmer by Douanier
Rousseau, On the Beach by Manet certainly hinted at
the fact that he possessed such significant masterpieces.
Daumier is represented by a luminous study of Sancho
Panchez for Don Quixote in the mountains (New York,
private collection).
Through his
work outdoors in the Fontainebleau forest, Narcisse
Diaz broke ground that the impressionist landscape painters
would investigate further, as seen in the extremely
lovely example of Snow in Louveciennes by Sisley in
1874. The easel and antique frame remind us that this
canvas was placed in the middle of Jacques Doucet's
rich collection of 18thc. Works. The Rabbit by Manet
was also placed among the works by Chardin, announcing
Doucet's new orientations as he turned away from antique
art toward contemporary art in 1912, though he kept
several works (see upper floor).
20e
siècle
The Picasso,
Modigliani, Foujita, Derain, Forain Room
Behind glass : water-colours and gouaches by Picasso
:
- Rêverie, Contemplation, Self-portrait, bear
witness to the years the artist was settled in Paris.
Picasso developed original art characterised by the
Demoiselles d'Avignon (which stayed in the Doucet-Dubrujeaud
family until it was sold in New York in 1937).
- Harlequin (1915) and two cubist Still Life (1919 and
1920).
These works, just next to the magnificent Portrait of
a Woman (1919) by Modigliani and the Portraits on Gold
Leaves (1917) by Foujita express the importance of the
Paris School during the years 1900-1920, a period rich
in contacts between artists and writers. Jacques Doucet's
fortune and artistic prescience played a decisive role
in this artistic milieu, where he was a generous benefactor
and followed the artists' advice, making some bold acquisitions.
The art deco seat by Legrain crystallises the importance
of African art, represented by 3 masks from the Paul
Guillaume collection.
Qualifié de "Magicien" par l'écrivain
André Suarès, Jacques Doucet se révéla,
dès 1913, un grand découvreur de talents
encourageant et aidant les jeunes artistes peintres
ou écrivains. La création de la bibliothèque
littéraire fut une aventure partagée avec
les jeunes auteurs de son temps tels que Max Jacob,
Blaise Cendrars, Louis Aragon ou André Breton.
Ce dernier, nommé bibliothécaire, introduisit
Jacques Doucet auprès des milieux d'avant-garde
provoquant ainsi des rencontres éclairées
entre le mécène parisien et des artistes
comme Picasso, Picabia ou Duchamp.
The
artists' studio
The recreation
of Paulette Martin and Jean Angladon-Dubrujeaud's permet
de rendre hommage aux artistes donateurs. Dès
leur rencontre à l'Ecole des Beaux Arts d'Avignon
ils partagent leur passion pour l'art et s'engagent
dans la vie artistique de la ville. Leurs carrières
seront ainsi jalonnées par les expositions des
différents groupes d'artistes régionaux.
Ils furent également tous deux reconnus pour
leur talent de graveurs et participèrent à
l'illustration de nombreux ouvrages.
Oriental
cabinet
Porcelain
with "green family" décor (detail)
The 18th century's fascination with the Orient is seen
in the taste for porcelain and also in the curiosity
for rare or unusual objects. As the perfect art lover,
Jacques Doucet was extremely demanding in the acquisitions
he made of high quality Far Eastern art. Examples are
the Tang medallion, the Buddha on silk. Paulette Martin
pursued this collection with the Dancer from the Tang
period.
Middle
Ages and Renaissance 
