Baroness Marion Lambert (1943 – 28 May 2016) was a Swiss art collector, and the wife of Baron Philippe Lambert of the Bank Brussels Lambert banking dynasty. She was described as "one of the first collectors and patrons of contemporary photography".[1]
Early life
editMarion Lambert was born Marion de Vries in 1943, into a prominent Swiss family of Dutch descent. She was raised in Geneva.[2][3]
Art collector
editLambert has been called "one of the first collectors and patrons of contemporary photography".[1]
In a November 2004, she sold her entire collection of about 300 photographs mostly from the 1980s, entitled Veronica's Revenge, at Phillips de Pury in Chelsea, New York for a total of $9.2 million. Her original intention was for the collection to hang in the new headquarters of Bank Brussels Lambert in Geneva, but the directors found the works "simply too shocking".[4] New records were set for works by Barbara Kruger, Charles Ray, Cindy Sherman, Mike Kelley, Richard Prince, and Louise Lawler.[4]
From 3 to 14 October 2015, 306 objects from the Lambert Art Collection with estimates from £20 up to £3 million were on show at Ely House in Dover Street, and then auctioned by Christie's on 14 October 2015.[5] Lambert and many of the objects in the auction appear in episode two of The Extraordinary Collector, presented by Gordon Watson.[6]
Personal life
editIn 1975, Marion[3] married Baron Philippe Lambert, and they had two children together, a son, Henri Lambert, and Philippine Lambert, who died by suicide aged 20.[7] Her suicide note and diaries accused a prominent family friend of sexual abuse.[2]
Death
editOn 24 May 2016, she was hit by a bus driver on Route 73 near Bond Street tube station in London. She died from head injuries on 28 May 2016.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ a b "» Baroness Marion Lambert - AO Art Observed™". Artobserved.com. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Baroness Marion Lambert". The Times. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Philippe Lambert, baron Lambert, * 1930". Geneall.net. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ a b Vogel, Carol (9 November 2004). "An Appropriate Finale For a $9.2 Million Auction - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "A Visual Odyssey: Collections from LAC (Lambert Art Collection)". Christies.com. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ BBC Two: The Extraordinary Collector, Baroness Marion Lambert – The £15 Million Auction, Gordon Watson meets Baroness Marion Lambert, episode 2 of 6, broadcast on Friday, 13 May 2016.
- ^ Pook, Sally (5 January 2001). "Philanthropist will not face trial over suicide girl's claims". Telegraph. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ Baroness Marion and Baron Philippe Lambert (18 June 2015). "Baroness Marion and Baron Philippe Lambert". ARTnews. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ Cumber, Robert (31 May 2016). "Baroness art collector dies following Oxford Street bus crash". Get West London. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- ^ "Collector Marion Lambert Dies in Bus Accident - artnet News". news.artnet.com. June 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.