The Marc Blanpain collection : a legacy of passion and transmission

A traumatic event marked a turning point in his collecting journey: the theft of a significant portion of his collection in the 1980s. This setback could have led him away from art, but instead, it acted as a catalyst for radical change. It was during this period that Blanpain met Jean-Paul Barbier, the renowned collector and founder of the Barbier-Mueller Museum in Geneva. This encounter proved pivotal. As Barbier often said, "The shortest path between two human beings is art." Under his influence, Blanpain discovered African terracotta, a revelation that broadened his horizons and reignited his passion. The Nok, Djenné, and Bankoni works, stored in the reserves of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, left him "dumbfounded by these discoveries as wondrous as they were unexpected."

Blanpain then embarked on a thorough exploration of African art, gradually expanding his focus from terracotta to immerse himself in the rich diversity of this heritage. Along the way, he also benefited from the expert advice of Pierre Dartevelle, a university friend turned antiquarian, and Bernard de Grunne, who gently guided him in refining his tastes. Blanpain reflects on the crucial role of his friendship with Barbier in shaping his eye for art. For five years, he relied entirely on Barbier’s judgment, sending detailed photographs of each piece he considered before making an acquisition. "His opinion was decisive for me," Blanpain writes, highlighting how this relationship deepened their bond.

Now, at the age of 86, Marc Blanpain has chosen to turn a new page by parting with his collection so that these carefully chosen objects can find new homes and touch other collectors, in the spirit of renewal and transmission.