Henri-Pierre Roché with Pipe (Primary Title)
Man Ray, American, 1890 - 1976 (Artist)
The French art advisor, collector, journalist, translator, and writer Henri-Pierre Roché (1879–1959) was a crucial intermediary between European artists and their American patrons. Between 1917 and 1924, Roché advised the American lawyer and art collector John Quinn, who assembled a renowned collection of modern art under his guidance, including major works by Constantin Brâncuşi, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso. Roché hired Man Ray to photograph available works of art to send to Quinn in New York, and in one memorable instance, Man Ray acted on Roché’s behalf to help persuade a reluctant Picasso to sell Quinn three of his most important recent paintings in 1922. On May 8, 1922, Roché posed for Man Ray while seated on a couch and smoking a pipe. He was very pleased with the resulting photograph, and it remained in his collection throughout his lifetime.
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund, by exchange
Man Ray: The Paris Years, VMFA, October 30, 2021 – February 21, 2022
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
