Eugen Gutmann (24 June 1840 - 21 August 1925) was a German banker, philanthropist and art collector who is primarily known for founding Dresdner Bank and co-founder of Deutsche Orientbank and the German-South American merchant bank.[1]
Eugen Gutmann Kommerzienrat a.d. | |
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 Gutmann portrayed by Max Liebermann, 1907 | |
| Born | Eugen Gutmann 24 June 1840 |
| Died | August 21, 1925 (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Berlin-Wedding |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupations |
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| Known for |
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| Children | 7, including Friedrich |
He primarily collected silverware which was partially sold to J. P. Morgan and today is exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[2][3][4] Gutmann is also the namesake of the Eugen-Gutmann-Society (Eugen-Gutmann-Gesellschaft) which is the historical association preserving the history of Commerzbank.[5]
Early life and education
editGutmann was born 24 June 1840 in Dresden, Saxony, the third of twelve children, to Bernhard Gutmann (né Baruch Gutmann), a private banker, and Maria (née Lederer), who was originally from Bohemia.[6] He was raised in a wealthy Jewish family.[7]
Career
editIn 1872, Gutmann advised the v. Kaskel family, to form a stock corporation and turn their family bank into Dresdner Bank. Between 1872 and 1920, Gutmann served as chairman of the supervisory board and is referred to as the founder of the banking institute. In 1905, he was the co-founder of Deutsche Orientbank and the German-South American merchant bank. He was also notable for being the financier and board member of several companies in the German heavy industry.
Personal life
editIn 1873, Gutmann married Sophie Magnus-Gerson, of Leipzig. They had seven children;
- Lili Eugenie Anna Gutmann (1874–1967), who married twice to Luca Orsini Baroni, an Italian politician and diplomat and then to Adolf Freiherr von Holzing-Berstett, a nobleman.
- Toinon Rosalie Henriette 'Antonie' Gutmann (1876–1964) married Hans Henric von Essen of Stockholm.
- Waulther Gutmann (1877–1917)
- Herbert Maximilian Magnus Gutmann (1879–1942)
- Kurt Gutmann (1883–1957)
- Max Ludwig Gutmann (1884–1948)
- Friedrich Bernhard Eugen Gutmann (1886–1944), married to Erika Luise Freiin von Landau (1892–1944); both murdered during The Holocaust; two children who later used the surname Goodman.
Gutmann died aged 85 on 21 August 1925 in Munich. Gutmann and his family converted from Judaism to Christianity in 1889.
References
edit- ^ Redaktion (2020-08-21). "21. August 1925: Abschied von Eugen Gutmann". BANKINGCLUB (in German). Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "The Metropolitan Museum of Art and New York State Department of Financial Services Announce the Return of a 16th-Century Silver Stem Cup to the Heirs of the Eugen Gutmann Estate - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "News - The Metropolitan Museum of Art". www.metmuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "A Gubbio dish from the Gutmann collection (Gutmann IV-B)". Restitutiecommissie. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Eugen-Gutmann-Gesellschaft e.V. | Aktuelles". www.eugen-gutmann-gesellschaft.de. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Family tree of Bernhard Gutmann". Geneanet. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
- ^ "Eugen-Gutmann-Gesellschaft e.V. | Eugen Gutmann". www.eugen-gutmann-gesellschaft.de. Retrieved 2024-02-25.