The Art of Acquiring: A Portrait of Etta & Claribel Cone

by Mary Gabriel

"For four and a half decades, Etta and Claribel Cone roamed artists' studios and art galleries in Europe, building one of the largest, most important art collections in the world. At one time, these two independently wealthy Jewish women from Baltimore received offers from virtually every prominent art museum in the world, all anxious to house their hitherto private assemblage of modern art. In 1949, they awarded all their holdings to the Baltimore Museum of Art. In 2002, that collection was valued at nearly $1 billion, making them two of the most philanthropic art collectors of our age.Yet, for complex reasons, the story of the Cone sisters has never been fully or accurately told.Mary Gabriel, an art-minded journalist and women’s historian, has, at long last, brought the little-known sisters to life, and shone the spotlight on their remarkable achievements."

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History, Art History, Book Club

282 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2002

About the author

Mary Gabriel was educated in the United States and France, and worked in Washington and London as a Reuters editor for nearly two decades. She is the author of two previous biographies: Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored, and The Art of Acquiring: A Portrait of Etta and Claribel Cone. She lives in Italy.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography of two brilliant German-Jewish sisters who were light years ahead of their time and lived for collecting art during the early 1900's. I would love to tour the Baltimore museum and see the "Cone Collection" of mostly French modern art especially the work of Henri Matisse.

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I can't believe I have never come across the Cone sisters before in my random art history readings. Those with an interest in fin de siecle and early 20th century art--especially the Fauves and Cubists--need to read this book!

[Gary Crossey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. And I am sure just the beginning of this rich story.

In recent years there have been other books* published about the untold story of women. Stories that history has often failed to tell. Unlike other books, this book remains focused on the sisters for the entire book. And with so many key players (mostly all men) it could have been easy for the author turn the focus (even for a few more lines here and there). Mary Gabriel did a brilliant job give the sisters the honor they deserve.

*THOSE OTHER BOOKS - that failed to keep the women the focus.
* Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art.
* The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched book about two unmarried Jewish sisters that were the unsung art collectors of their day. Major collectors of Matisse primarily, also Picasso, Renoir, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec and many more. Read this for book review being held at Nasher Museum where part of Cone collection is currently being shown. Looking forward to the book review and exhibit! Mary Gabriel has a penchant for writing about great women from the 19th century. Enjoyed also her book Notorious Victoria.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. We happened upon a special exhibit of part of the Cone collection in Vancouver last summer. We have been to Baltimore many times and were generally familiar with Cone Mills from living in North Carolina. We had no idea that the Cone sisters had built this fabulous art collection. It is a story worth reading.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful biography of the Cone sisters (Claribel and Etta) should be more available...it is only available in hardcover and not from either either of my (two very large) library systems. The Cone sisters from Baltimore collected art in the early twentieth century--Matisse, Picasso, and their contemporaries. The story of how they lived and collected is fascinating. Claribel was a doctor at a time when most women weren't educated. They learned about art (amassing a large library) and filled in their collection.

The collection finally went to the Baltimore Museum of Art where a separate wing (financed partly by the sisters) was added for the Cone Collection. Even now, only a small part of the collection can be seen at any time.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book. Though I live near Baltimore and have visited the Cone Collection at the BMA, I really didn't know much about these two remarkable women and how they came to collect the masterpieces in the collection. You cannot help but be impressed by them. I was particularly impressed with the way in which Etta Cone, the shyer more retiring sister, grew in her knowledge and love of art. After Claribel died, Etta continued to grow the collection in a very thoughtful way. We owe them a debt of gratitude for the way in which they steadfastly supported Matisse and other artists in the early part of the 20th century.

[Georgianna Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book! I was so interested in the Cone sisters after visiting the Baltimore Museum of art and found this book on Amazon. I was nervous to start as i read mainly fiction books but this was an easy to read and easy to love book. I am an art history enthusiast and found this to be a great 'peak behind the curtain' of what was happening during the impressionist painters and how they became famous. I would definitely recommend this book

[Janet Wertman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars for the story itself - a fascinating one which really deserves to be told of the women who might well have been responsible for the rise of impressionism. But three stars because I was uncomfortable with the obsessive consumption they displayed later in their lives (my mother was a hoarder...this was kinda triggering).

[Alejandra Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting to see how these two sisters above all different from everyone else managed to collect great works of art in a time where women were not taken as seriously especially if they were unmarried.

[D Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. I have wondered about them for years and they did not disappoint. The ladies are very interesting. The places they went and the people they met made for an enjoyable read.

[God Vs. The Patriarchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining history if you love Art History, Paris Before the War, Matisse, Family Dramas, or Baltimore.

[Natalie]

Author of Ninth Street Women

[Fabiola Del Aguila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and very informative of the world and history of art in the early late 19th century and turn of the 20th century. Anyone who loves art this is a must read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about fascinating women.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of two women I new nothing about. Definitely will visit the Baltimore Museum of Art next time I'm in the area.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I love art and to read about the women who devoted their lives to supporting and collecting art is pretty darn amazing. The connection to Baltimore is interesting as well, though, in truth, the women spent more time in Europe than here. The information about Gertrude Stein is rather illuminating, since I never knew much about her. I would recommend this book to anyone who is vaguely interested in modern art.

[Suneeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of The Cone Sisters, Etta and Claribel. The book covered their lives in Baltimore, in Europe (pre and post WWI and WW2). I found the history part very interesting, but kind of glossed over the art collection parts. It's just not my cup of tea. Fans of Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, etc would probably enjoy this book much more.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of the Coen sisters of Baltimore, Maryland. Their art collection was donated to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting. Time for a pilgrimage to Baltimore!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect mix of history and art. The Cone sisters were amazing. What started out as a very personal collection turned out to be a specific collection of 20th century art movements. Most interesting was how their early purchases allowed Matisse, Picasso and others to survive the days before they became important to the general art world.