Active Dates: approximately 1874-2005
Gallerist(s): Hermann Wunderlich (active in gallery between 1874-1892)
Edward G. Kennedy (active in gallery between 1887-1916)
Locations:1All names, locations, and active dates from: “Kennedy Galleries to Close, Will Go On as Private Entity.” https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/kennedy-galleries-to-close-will-go-on-as-private-entity-2068/.
1884: John Street, Lower Manhattan, New York
1883: 808 Broadway, New York
1966: East 56th Street, New York
1974: West 57th Street, New York
1994: 730 Fifth Ave, New York
Specialty: They began selling Old Master prints, but transitioned to selling Popular Prints, American Art, and James McNeill Whistler’s works.
Gallery History
Having immigrated to the United States from Württemberg, Germany, Hermann Wunderlich was the head of prints at the New York branch of the Goupil Gallery before opening his H. Wunderlich & Company in 1874, later joined by Edward G. Kennedy.2“The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: H.Wunderlich & Company,” University of Glasgow,” Accessed April 6, 2020. https://www.whistler.arts.gla.ac.uk/correspondence/biog/display/?bid=Wund_H. (citation for petri section coming soon) Their gallery mainly dealt with Old Master prints at its start but transitioned into selling popular prints and contemporary American art.3“H. Wunderlich & Company/Kennedy & Company Stock Books, 1879-1915,” Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, www.aaa.si.edu/collections/h-wunderlich–companykennedy–company-stock-books-10382. Putting on exhibitions in his gallery for artists like Henry Farrer and Julian Weir,4“Wunderlich, Gerold & Co.” Antiques & Fine Art – Wunderlich, Gerold & Co. – Inventory, www.antiquesandfineart.com/dealers/inventory.cfm?id=2483. the gallery developed a formidable reputation in New York City. The most notable relationship they possessed was with the renowned James McNeill Whistler, for whom they hosted an exhibition of Whistler’s Venetian prints show entitled “Arrangement in White & Yellow,”5“The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: H.Wunderlich & Company.” and his first painting exhibition in the United States, “Notes” – “Harmonies” – “Nocturnes” in 1889.6 Grischka Petri, Arrangement in Business the Art Markets and the Career of James McNeill Whistler (Hildesheim: Olms, 2011), 465. This painting exhibition wowed American audiences with its monochromatic use of pinks and dramatic Whistlerian curation and similarly included what would later be known as arguably Whistler’s most controversial work, Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket.7 “The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: H.Wunderlich & Company.” Wunderlich and Kennedy would continue to exhibit Whistler’s art in the United States, as the gallery was the main American contact for the artist.8 “The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: H.Wunderlich & Company.” Whistler’s relationship with various members of H. Wunderlich & Company made Wunderlich one of the biggest dealers of Whistler’s works in the United States for elite American families across the country. After Wunderlich died at a young age in 1893, his partner Edward G. Kennedy took full control of the gallery and changed its name to Kennedy & Company by 1912, and to the Kennedy Galleries by 1952.9 “Kennedy Galleries to Close, Will Go On as Private Entity.” Wunderlich and Kennedy’s descendants, including the famous American dealer Rudolf Gerold Wunderlich.10 “Kennedy Galleries to Close, Will Go On as Private Entity.” Lawrence Fleischman came on to the team in 1966, after which his daughter Martha J. Fleishman continued working with the gallery through to 2005, after which the Kennedy Galleries transitioned into an art consulting firm.11 “Kennedy Galleries to Close, Will Go On as Private Entity.”
Illustrations
“London & New York: George Bell & Sons / Wunderlich & Co.,” 1905. Octavo. Parchment and printed boards.12 “London & New York: George Bell & Sons / Wunderlich & Co., 1905, Octavo, Parchment and printed boards,” William Reese Company, online.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Little Venice from Venice, 1880, Etching.13 “James Abbott McNeill Whistler: Little Venice from Venice: Twelve Etchings (First Venice Set) (1880),” Artsy, May 2019, online.
Date Written: March 7, 2020
Contributors: CC
H.Wunderlich & Company Gallery Bio PDF
Primary Sources
“H. Wunderlich & Company/Kennedy & Company Stock Books, 1879-1915.” Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, www.aaa.si.edu/collections/h-wunderlich–companykennedy–company-stock-books-10382.
“James Abbott McNeill Whistler: Little Venice from Venice: Twelve Etchings (First Venice Set) (1880).” Artsy, May 2019. https://www.artsy.net/artwork/james-abbott-mcneill-whistler-little-venice-from-venice-twelve-etchings-first-venice-set.
“London & New York: George Bell & Sons / Wunderlich & Co., 1905. Octavo. Parchment and printed boards.” William Reese Company, Accessed April 12, 2020. https://www.williamreesecompany.com/pages/books/WRCLIT81053/james-m-whistler-thomas-r-way/mr-whistlers-lithographs-the-catalogue
Secondary Sources:
Kinsella, Eileen. “Kennedy Galleries to Close, Will Go On as Private Entity.” ARTnews. August 6, 2012. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/kennedy-galleries-to-close-will-go-on-as-private-entity-2068/.
Petri, Grischka. Arrangement in Business the Art Markets and the Career of James McNeill Whistler. Hildesheim: Olms, 2011.
Tyre, William. “Hermann Wunderlich – The Story of a House.” Glessner House, 5 Aug. 2019, www.glessnerhouse.org/story-of-a-house/tag/Hermann+Wunderlich.
“University of Glasgow.” The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: Search for Exhibitions. Accessed April 6, 2020. https://www.whistler.arts.gla.ac.uk/correspondence/exhibit/.
“University of Glasgow.” The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler: The Correspondence. Accessed April 6, 2020. https://www.whistler.arts.gla.ac.uk/correspondence/biog/display/?bid=Wund_H.
“Wunderlich, Gerold & Co.” Antiques & Fine Art – Wunderlich, Gerold & Co. – Inventory, www.antiquesandfineart.com/dealers/inventory.cfm?id=2483.