Lessons from the Denney Collection: 3

Sudden Death of Anthony Denney on 30 April 1990

Death - Letter dated 27 April 1990 - Letter from beyond the grave 22 August 1990

Denney's sudden death in Spain on 30th April 1990

Death Certificate

Denney died suddenly from cardiac arrest early on 30th April 1990 at the age of 76. His body was laid out in a house in the centre of the village of Salvatierra, where the villagers came to pay their last respects, and the funeral service and burial took place the same day. Neither family nor friends were able to be present. A notice of death was published in the Times two days later and his obituary on May 15th.

Letter to Dallas dated 3 days before death - 27 April 1990

Meanwhile a typed letter from Salvatierra, dated Friday 27th April 1990, was on its way to the DMA, reaching there about two weeks after his death:

"Now, however, it is my wish to reunite my collection in Europe. To this end I am arranging a long term loan to the Musée d'Art Moderne de Toulouse, France, under the directorship of Monsieur Alain Mousseigne…..From now on all arrangements will be conducted by Monsieur Mousseigne himself, with my authorisation, and he will be writing to you directly from Toulouse" (16)

The letter was signed "Anthony Denney": signature in name of Anthony Denney on letter dated 27 April 1990 to Dallas Museum of Art

The Senior Curator of Western Art at the DMA replied to "Anthony Denney" on 18th May 1990, thanking him for the loan, and saying that his letter was being forwarded to the Registrar: "who will wait to hear from Monsieur Mousseigne (17) about the arrangements."

Link to Dallas Museum of Art

Letter to Dallas from "Mr Denney" after his death - 22 August 1990

Now that M. Mousseigne the Director of the Museum of Modern Art of Toulouse (MOMAT) was negotiating the transfer with the DMA directly, "Mr. Denney" was out of the loop. However, as the shipping date approached, the Registrar of the DMA became concerned about insurance. Instead of dealing with MOMAT, as instructed, she wrote to Denney - presumed alive - suggesting that he might like to adjust the values. Denney - by now three and a half months beyond the grave - replied on 22 August 1990:

"Many thanks for your letter of 27 July which awaited my return from holiday. Please forgive the inevitable delay in replying..."

The letter was signed: signature on letter of 22 August 1990 to Dallas Museum of Art signed Anthony Denney ( nearly 4 months after death)

Signature of 22 Aug 1990 - three and a half months after death Signature comparisons

Pictures shipped to Toulouse

The signature on the letter went unremarked and the collection, with its revised insurance values, was air-freighted to France on November 18th 1990 under suitable security arrangements for such a valuable cargo (18) The shipping order described:

" 4 crates containing 23 works of art which belong to Mr. Denney

RETURN OF DENNEY LONG TERM LOAN".

On 5th March 1991, M. Mousseigne signed the shipping order and returned it to the DMA, thereby confirming that the consignment had been released by Customs into his care at MOMAT.

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Click to see selection of pictures now in Toulouse

Section 2 - Index - Section 4

Section 3 - References

16 Both the Widow and the City of Toulouse use this letter as evidence that Anthony Denney wished to give his collection to Toulouse. The most that can possibly said, taking into account other correspondence, is that between January and April 1990, the possibility of gathering up pictures in Toulouse as a unified collection on long term loan may have been discussed.

17 Alain Mousseigne B. Carcassonne 1946. First post at the Musée des Augustins, Toulouse in 1972. This was followed by 5 years at the Musée de l’Annonciade at St Tropez, followed by a return to Toulouse, where he was put in charge of reorganising the exhibition rooms of the Musée des Augustins and of developing a sector for modern art. From 1983 there was a much more active policy on art in Toulouse and in 1985 the decision was taken to create a Museum of Modern Art in Toulouse, of which he became the project director. At he same time he directed the Museum of Contemporary Art at Labège and worked with the City, the Region and the State to bring all the various strands together in a location in the centre of Toulouse.

18 Insured for US$ 998,000

Section 2 - Index - Section 4

Paper presented for discussion at the Institute of Art and Law Seminar on Art Loans and Exhibitions, at the Courtauld Institute, London, May 13 1996

Version 2.2 May 23 1999 antonya@antonya.ace.co.uk