From a Parisian Dining Room to a German Private Museum: Frans Hals in the Collections of Count André Mniszech and Marcus Kappel

Abstract

Following the death of Count André Mniszech (1823-1905), a Pole living in Paris who owned seven portraits by Frans Hals, his paintings found their way into private collections, including that of Marcus Kappel (1839-1920) in Berlin. Kappel’s manner of collecting and exhibiting differed considerably from that of his Parisian predecessor. Although he owned another two pieces by Frans Hals, the Portrait of Catharina Brugman was acclaimed as one of the finest paintings in his collection.