The remarkable art collection donated by American philanthropist Solomon R. Guggenheim (1861–1949) to the foundation that bears his name continues to astonish both seasoned experts and first-time visitors alike. The vibrant, dynamic works—united by their abstract style—can today be admired at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. This legacy, made possible through Guggenheim’s financial support and his genuine closeness to the artists he championed, became his personal contribution to the diverse and fascinating landscape of contemporary art.
In the winter of 1949, Solomon Guggenheim passed away in New York City. With his death, the world of modern abstract art lost one of its greatest patrons—a man deeply enamored with any expression of beauty that could awaken the human mind, refresh ideas, and elevate the spirit. Anticipating that not everyone would understand his passion, he laid the foundation for a museum—bearing his name—that would house the collection he had lovingly assembled, so it could be shared with the world after his passing.
A Collector’s Passion
Solomon Guggenheim and his wife, Irene Rothschild Guggenheim, were devoted art collectors. Their shared passion began in the 1890s, a pursuit they described as one of the great joys of their life together. They believed that true collecting required not only genuine love for art but also human qualities often overlooked in financial decisions: intuition and confidence in one’s own taste.
At first, the Guggenheims followed the traditional path of elite collectors—acquiring works from the French Barbizon school, Old Masters, and pastoral American landscapes, as well as Audubon prints. It wasn’t until 1927, as Solomon neared his seventieth birthday, that he discovered modern art—and his fascination was immediate and profound. He described this revelation as something that “filled him with happiness and joy—something he wished to share with everyone.”
Exploratory Journeys in Search of the New
In 1930, the Guggenheims traveled through Europe with their friend, the German painter Hilla Rebay, to discover new artists and expand their collection. During this trip, they met Wassily Kandinsky in Dessau, Germany, where he was teaching at the Bauhaus. Guided by instinct, Guggenheim purchased Composition 8 (Komposition 8, 1923)—a decision that marked a turning point in his collecting journey.
Over the next two decades, the couple systematically built a collection centered on what they called “non-objective art.” Works by Robert Delaunay, László Moholy-Nagy, Marc Chagall, Amedeo Modigliani, Albert Gleizes, Fernand Léger, Rudolf Bauer, and Kandinsky himself soon joined the collection. During this period, Guggenheim also developed a close partnership with the gallerist Karl Nierendorf, whose private collection later became part of the Guggenheim Foundation’s holdings.
Reflecting on that era, Guggenheim once said:
“Experts kept telling me these modern works were rubbish, things to be discarded. But I loved them. I was completely captivated, and my artistic instinct told me this modern art possessed a beauty of its own. I felt such a deep connection to these paintings that I wanted them close to me—to live with them every day.”
Living in Harmony with Abstract Art
In the early 1930s, as the Great Depression shook the world, the Guggenheims sought solace in art. They transformed several of their luxury suites at The Plaza Hotel into improvised galleries, opening them to the public by appointment. Their growing collection also adorned their country home on Long Island, though that residence remained private. Today, the full collection stands as the centerpiece of the iconic Guggenheim Museum in New York City.
Toward the end of his life, Solomon Guggenheim often spoke of his unwavering belief that, in art, one must always listen to the inner voice that guides one’s pursuit of beauty. His “intuitive conviction and profound faith in this non-objective art,” he maintained, would one day bear fruit and inspire joy in future generations of viewers—just as it had inspired him.
Through his vision and philanthropy, Guggenheim not only supported artists who dared to break with convention but also reshaped the cultural landscape of 20th-century New York, ensuring that abstract art would no longer exist on the margins—but at the very heart of modernity itself.
