Known as one of the greatest art collectors in the world, Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen Bornemisza died at 81 of a heart attack in Madrid on April 27th 2002 An inveterate seducer –he married five times- the German-born collector considered works of art like women with whom he used to fall in love. He was the heir of the Thyssen dynasty founded by his grandfather August (1842-1926), the magnate of the German metallurgy industry who was succeeded by Heinrich von Thyssen Bornemisza (1875-1947), the Baron's father.
Hans Heinrich managed to rebuild his family's empire after the Second World War and created some 250 firms around the world. In addition, he reconstituted his family's collection of works of art, notably old master paintings from the German, Flemish and Dutch schools. He also collected modern works by Paul Gauguin, Emil Nolde, Max Beckmann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Schmidt-Rottluf , Max Ernst and even Jackson Pollock.
The Baron, whose motto was “If I rest, I rust” always felt the need to confront himself with the works he had acquired. Such works notably brought him peace or torment. He also used to admire a painting by Kirchner every night before going to bed.
He used to buy paintings almost daily and amassed in his personal museum some 1400 canvasses under the supervision of his then curator Simon de Pury.
Born in The Hague in 1921, the Baron had become a Swiss citizen in 1952 and after four successive weddings, with Princess Teresa de Lippe, Nina Sleia Dyer, Fiona Campbell-Walter and Liane Denise he married in 1985 Carmen “Tita” Cervera a former "Miss Spain 1961" who was the widow of U.S actor Lex Barker who had made himself famous by impersonating the character of Tarzan on the screen.
In 1993, the Baron donated 775 of his best art pieces to Spain, which are now housed in the beautiful and prestigious Madrid foundation bearing his name, notably two exceptional works by Carpaccio and Ghirlandaio. He also loaned many works to several museums during the past thirty years.
Home
