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historical notes
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Baron Frédéric Spitzer was an art collector and curiosities dealer in Paris specializing in medieval and Renaissance art.
Spitzer worked with European collectors, such as Baron Adolphe de Rothschild and Sir Richard Wallace, and some of his art objects came from the collections of, among others, Louis Fidel Debruge-Duménil, Prince Soltykoff, Baron Seillière, Alessandro Castellani, and Julien Gréau.
Spitzer commissioned the German restorer, among other artisans, Reinhold Vasters (1827–1909) to alter objects or create forgeries that could resale on the market as authentic works of art from the Renaissance and medieval period.
In 1893, the bulk of Spitzer’s collection, over 4,000 items, was sold over a three month period. Collector George Salting (1835-1909) purchased a good portion of the collection and later bequeathed work to the British Museum, the National Gallery in London, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1978, some of the work left to the Victoria Albert Museum was found to be fraudulent.
Later, more of Spitzer’s collection was sold in a five session sale at Anderson Galleries in New York City (Jan 9–Jan 10, 1929). At the time of the sale it was reported to have included Medieval and Renaissance fine and decorative art.
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