The New Yorker, November 21, 1959 P. 57
LE GAMIN
By Janet Flanner
November 13, 1959
PROFILE of Bernard Buffet, the young Parisian artist. He received his first important notice in '48, in connection with a minor prize, the Prix de la Jeune Peinture, which he did not win. Dr. Maurice Girardin, an eccentric Paris dentist, was one of the jurors. He had little money but a gift for scenting talent. He resigned from the jury because of a split in opinion as to Buffet's talent. He befriended the artist, argued in Buffet's favor, dragged art lovers into looking at his work, & bought some of his paintings. When he died 3 years later, his art collection, willed to the Paris Petit-Palais Museum, was valued at 2 billion. It included 17 Dufys, 4 Braques, 1 Chagall, 5 Derains, 3 de Segonzacs, 1 Juan Gris, 2 Legers, 4 Matisses, 5 Modiglianis, 4 Pascins, 5 Picassos, 4 Soutines, 4 Vlamincks, 8 Utrillos 52 Roualts, and 13 Buffets.
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