A cornerstone of our in-house research and expertise

Our library is an essential tool to facilitate independent research and evaluate the quality, provenance and importance of the works we select for our clients. The collection was initiated by Marc Blondeau who passionately hunted for old catalogues and art books in the second-hand bookshops of Paris in the late sixties. Under his spirited supervision, it has grown to encompass catalogues raisonnés, monographs, exhibition and auction catalogues, among others. It is curated according to scientific standards and digitally catalogued. The collection is constantly enriched by the acquisition of new publications thanks to our ongoing observation of the art market and artists in our focus.

The library is a cornerstone of our connoisseurship. It is central to our working methods, standards and professional ethics.

Catalogues raisonnés are fundamental tools for researching the provenance, the exhibition history, and legitimate authenticity of a work of art.

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

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 Breton, focuses on Old Masters and lists artists born between 1240 and 1779.

Tracing provenance and appraisal, the auction catalogue is an essential resource when investigating on a work of art.The auction may sometimes be the sole opportunity to identify an object passing from one private owner to another.