Conversations with Ernst Beyeler

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9 Again Thompson.
Following Klee and collection - Giacometti


Christophe Maury: Deals with Thompson were not over. After selling lots of one hundred and Klee collection in the 340 paintings he called you ...

Ernst Beyeler: Two years later, Thompson decided to sell all of its Giacometti. He had the biggest collection of the sculptor, it consisted of ninety works. He had talks with people from the film industry, Los Angeles - Actor, prolyusserami - but they in no way finished. Then he called me. I am again - for the third time - was the second, it was a comfortable position, because I knew that he was disappointed and in a hurry. This collection was impossible to miss. I spoke with two Zurich collectors, brothers Hans and Walter Behlerami, who believed that in Switzerland shamefully little works of this great artist. They found a partner, which included their friends, the municipality of Zurich canton and the Confederation, and have confirmed directly to Thompson, that buying this collection: Shvaytsariya, who could not make Giacometti at the beginning of its activity, was determined to catch up. But the president of the museum and one of the largest banks in Zurich did not like Giacometti and talked Behtlerov buy it. Behtlery refused, and this meant that the operation is not feasible. Despite the fact that I was heavily in debt, I made him an offer for the same amount minus the fee. He agreed.

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You already know it inside out, so that the operation probably was painless? Your relationship with Thompson already smell cooperation, right?

It is not without difficulties, can not do ever ... When the sculptures, paintings and drawings arrived in Basel, I discovered that the lack of three works of the most significant. For me it was like a blow to the groin - in fact I was acting on instructions from his lawyer and paid as much to me demanded. My lawyer suggested I file it in court Pittsberge, but plead with him in his hometown, knowing that Judge O'Brien - one of his closest friend? In the end I will refund 35,000 dollars and got all three missing work - it was the only and certainly at least the quickest way out.

as it relates to the artists?

He loved to win, all the time to invent new games. Once we met in Paris, we dined with the Alberto and Annette Giacometti. Thompson booked a table at a fancy restaurant near the Champs Elysees. Talking was not easy: Thompson spoke neither French nor Italian, and Alberto did not know English. But once we got out of the situation, I turned straight to Giacometti. Suddenly, Thompson interrupted our conversation and asked me what kind of wine I drink.
- Same as Giacometti.
- No, this wine is only for the artist!
- Then I'll drink more, I do not care ...

Alberto, who more or less understood what was going on, said he will drink the same wine that I am. Thus, to satisfy everybody, I poured two glasses. Dinner lasted. By the end of dinner we drank a lot, and Alberto put his head in his hands, his eyelids stuck together, it was evident that he is struggling to stay awake.
- Are you tired? - Asked Thompson. Why are you so tired?
- I worked hard.
- If you're too much work, I'll help you. I'll give you money, so you could relax.

Thompson took out a checkbook and began to write a check. Dzhakonetti immediately woke up:
- Stop! Wait! Under what conditions?
- When you're too much work, you get tired. I offer you two hundred fifty thousand dollars, that you only worked for Beyeler and for me. OK?
- It is impossible, I have a contract with Pierre Matisse and Megom ...
Giacometti leaned over to me and asked to transfer 250 thousand dollars in Swiss francs. I paused and replied that it would be more than a million.
- It is not enough - he whispered to me Giacometti.
- Judging by how you live, you have enough of that in abundance.
- What should I do with that money?
- Well, for example, round trip ...
- No, I do not care ...

Thompson picked up my check, m more than we in this topic did not return. When we parted, I decided to go to the Lippe drink beer. Annette went to bed, and Alberto went with me. Thompson's proposal it very intrigued, because the amount was still very large. We continued to talk about this proposal, when the pub went Tristan Tzara. Giacometti waved to him, and then told what had happened. Are you sick? The conversation was finished, the more we talked about it ever.

And why Thompson did it offer?

I said, he liked to win, he was a player. He told me a few days. He knew that he did not agree, he did it to rouse the dozing Giacometti. However, it is well calculated risk, and if Alberto took the check, then Thompson would have stayed in the win: Giacometti stop working - Thompson's collection will be valued many times more expensive, do not stop - we have to Thompson will become its exclusive customers. Thompson felt incredibly quickly and correctly assessed the situation.

When you buy these works by Giacometti, must have been pleased that his work back to Switzerland?

I exhibited in the gallery all acquired works by Alberto and said that he intends to sell them only in Switzerland. Charming - a flirty response. But we managed to implement my idea. After two years of intense negotiations start Behtlery Zurich and their friends saved collection. Fund was established with the participation of Hans Grether. Now three-quarters of the collection are in the Kunsthaus Zurich, a little less than a quarter of Kunstmuzeume Basel, and several works in the museum Winterthur. Three years later, in «Neue Zürcher Zeitung» noted that New York's public auction sale of a single large sculptures by Giacometti brought as much as the cost Zurich museum of the whole collection.

This is the last chapter was translated by me, at least not yet. I do not know, maybe I'll translate further, has not yet decided.