Why Pictures Now, 1981

We are an international art advisory firm since 1987 specialized in Impressionist, Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art

Louise Lawler
Why Pictures Now, 1981 (detail)

Our business was initiated in 1987 in Paris by Marc Blondeau, former chairman of Sotheby’s France. A specialist in Impressionism and Modern Art, Marc Blondeau was the first expert to create an art consultancy exclusively designed for art collectors and devoted to their requirements and concerns.

In 2000, Marc Blondeau relocated from Paris to Geneva to expand his international activities and founded Blondeau & Cie. Philippe Davet joined him as a partner to manage and develop the firm. He developed a selective and elaborate exhibition program with a range of contemporary artists. Philippe Davet specialized in post-war and contemporary art, expanding the firm’s advisory and brokerage activities in the sector through flourishing relations with art collectors and museums.

Our offices are located on the premises of an early 20th-century factory building in the heart of the Quartier des Bains in Geneva. Our facility houses a private research art library containing a collection of over 18,000 books including catalogues raisonnés, monographs, exhibition and auction catalogues.

Blondeau & Cie is also the publisher of the ACI (Art Catalogue Index), a reference inventory of catalogues raisonnés.

Blondeau & Cie

Between 2003 and 2017, Blondeau & Cie operated an exhibition gallery specialized in contemporary art. The gallery presented solo exhibitions of contemporary artists such as Adel Abdessemed, Louise Lawler, Sol LeWitt, Jonathan Monk, Raymond Pettibon, Peter Saul and Jim Shaw. Additionally, Blondeau & Cie published reference books and exhibition catalogues such as Louise Lawler, the Tremaine Pictures or Jim Shaw, Distorted Faces (explore our archives here). The gallery participated in Art Basel Basel from 2011 to 2017. Marc Blondeau was appointed to the selection committee of the fair from 2014 to 2017.

Blondeau & Cie was a founder and enthusiastic board member of the Quartier des Bains association and an active player in the creation of the Artgenève salon.

Through our longstanding relationship with Etienne Bréton (Paris), we can provide a similar service covering works from the 14th to the 19th century.

Presently, Blondeau & Cie focuses exclusively on art brokerage and consultancy to art collectors, which has always been at the core of its expertise.

Exhibition archives

Blondeau & Cie showcased some 46 exhibitions in conjunction with galleries from 2003 to 2017. During this time, Blondeau & Cie produced several publications.

In addition to showing emerging artists, Blondeau & Cie has conceived exhibitions of reference on contemporary artists such as Adel Abdessemed, Louise Lawler, Sol Lewitt, Jonathan Monk, Raymond Pettibon, Jim Shaw and Peter Saul. Thanks to these exhibitions, Blondeau & Cie participated in ArtBasel Basel from 2011 to 2017.

In 2017, Blondeau & Cie decided to focus exclusively on its core expert consultancy and services to collectors.

 

 

ACI

Under the direction of Marc Blondeau, Blondeau & Cie published the ACI (Art Catalogue Index), a reference index of catalogues raisonnés from artists born between 1240 to the late 20th century, covering painting, sculpture, works on paper and contemporary media.

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The ACI is organized into two volumes. Volume I (1st ed. 2009, 2nd ed. 2020), produced in collaboration with Thierry Meaudre, lists artists born between 1780 and the late 20th century. Volume II (ed. 2020), produced by Etienne Bréton, focuses on Old Masters and lists artists born between 1240 and 1779.

The ACI aims to fill a bibliographic gap by offering a critically conceived index listing all catalogues raisonnés. With a smart, intelligent design, this concise work presents the catalogues in alphabetical order, first by artist, then author, providing rapid access to information. Today, whether one is a museum curator, art historian, art critic, librarian, bookseller, student, collector, expert, auctioneer, gallery owner or art dealer, the catalogue raisonné is an indispensable and essential tool of the trade.

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Contact

Blondeau & Cie
5, rue de la Muse
CH-1205 Genève
Switzerland

T. +41 22 544 95 95

Offices:
Monday to Friday
9h-12h30 & 14h-18h00
 
 

Marc Blondeau
muse@blondeau.ch

 
 

Philippe Davet
philippe@blondeau.ch
 
 

Sandrine Frieden Pereira Dias
sandrine@blondeau.ch
 
 

Alexandra Kosch Fragnière
alexandra@blondeau.ch
 
 

Anouk Schauenberg
anouk@blondeau.ch