THE GISMONDI GALLERY
A HISTORY OF ART
AND FAMILY
However, their Parisian activity did not take them away from the French Riviera. Jean Gismondi promotes the connection between art and craftsmanship, following the example of Renaissance and Baroque artistic productions, of which he has become a specialist. He collaborated with the most talented craftsmen of their specialty, many of whom were gathered at the time in the South of France. Woodworkers, marble and bronze workers, restorers of paintings and old drawings, the antique dealer is committed to perpetuating ancestral know-how and craftsmanship.
Know-how and craftsmanship
In the 1980s, the gallery proclaimed the interconnection of artistic periods, combining ancient and contemporary art ahead of its time. On international fairs or in the salons of the rue Royale, Renaissance cabinets are displayed alongside compositions by Damien Hirst, 17th century woodwork is ornamented with paintings by JonOne and works by Rudolf Stingel, 18th century chests of drawers are surmounted with sculptures by César or Arman. The Gismondi's make the marriage of genres and eras an art which is transmitted.
Sabrina Gismondi shares an early taste for objects and aesthetics with her parents. She joined the family business as an adult and developed a fine knowledge of the art market alongside Jean and Colette over several decades. Twenty years ago, she naturally took over the Parisian gallery, accompanied by Éric Reymond.
As the head of an important cabinetmaking workshop in Antibes and CNES (National Chamber of Specialized Experts) expert in furniture and artwork from the 17th and 18th centuries, Eric Reymond was for thirty years Jean Gismondi's right-hand man, mainly in charge of acquisitions.
Following Jean and Colette Gismondi's model, Sabrina Gismondi and Éric Reymond orchestrate the rue Royale establishment with passion and high standards. Their expertise, combined with the knowledge of their team, reflects the specificity of the antique dealer's profession. Acquisitions made under the watchful eye of Eric Reymond, nourished by the in-depth research conducted by Laurence Armando, art historian, regularly turn out to be beautiful discoveries. The latest was a quadretto representing Pegasus with Bellerophon at the Pirene fountain, attributed to Domenico Florentino (Italy, 16th century).
Besides the gallery, the Gismondi's present their most beautiful objects in a monumental setting located in the hills of Antibes, acquired by Jean and Colette in 1989: la Bastide du Roy. This magnificent property was the wedding gift of Henri IV, in 1608, then of the Count of Polignac and his wife, Marie-Blanche Lanvin — courtesy of the famous designer Jeanne Lanvin. Artists are warmly welcomed here, sometimes staying for several years, as César did. This mythical residence, today a high place for receptions in the French Riviera, has been managed since 2017 by Divina Gismondi, the youngest daughter of the couple, herself specialized in modern and contemporary art.
Since 2021, Marius Jacob-Gismondi embodies the third generation of Gismondi at the gallery on Rue Royale. Also specializing in modern and contemporary art — he founded Darmo Art with Alexis de Bernède in 2018 —, Sabrina Gismondi's son extends his grandfather's ambition by working to reduce the boundaries that still separate the art of yesterday and today.
The story begins in 1966, when Jean and Colette Gismondi opened their first gallery on the ramparts of Antibes. Very quickly, the store specialized in furniture, art objects and curiosities from the Middle Ages to the XIXth century. Jean Gismondi became a major figure in the artistic effervescence that prevailed on the French Riviera after the war, creating in 1971 the Salon des Antiquaires d'Antibes.
The story begins in 1966, when Jean and Colette Gismondi opened their first gallery on the ramparts of Antibes. Very quickly, the store specialized in furniture, art objects and curiosities from the Middle Ages to the XIXth century. Jean Gismondi became a major figure in the artistic effervescence that prevailed on the French Riviera after the war, creating in 1971 the Salon des Antiquaires d'Antibes.
In 1982, due to its success, the Gismondi gallery moved to rue Royale in Paris. In a few years, the couple became one of the most renowned antique dealers in the capital.
However, their Parisian activity did not take them away from the French Riviera. Jean Gismondi promotes the connection between art and craftsmanship, following the example of Renaissance and Baroque artistic productions, of which he has become a specialist. He collaborated with the most talented craftsmen of their specialty, many of whom were gathered at the time in the South of France. Woodworkers, marble and bronze workers, restorers of paintings and old drawings, the antique dealer is committed to perpetuating ancestral know-how and craftsmanship.
Know-how and craftsmanship
In the 1980s, the gallery proclaimed the interconnection of artistic periods, combining ancient and contemporary art ahead of its time. On international fairs or in the salons of the rue Royale, Renaissance cabinets are displayed alongside compositions by Damien Hirst, 17th century woodwork is ornamented with paintings by JonOne and works by Rudolf Stingel, 18th century chests of drawers are surmounted with sculptures by César or Arman. The Gismondi's make the marriage of genres and eras an art which is transmitted.
Sabrina Gismondi shares an early taste for objects and aesthetics with her parents. She joined the family business as an adult and developed a fine knowledge of the art market alongside Jean and Colette over several decades. Twenty years ago, she naturally took over the Parisian gallery, accompanied by Éric Reymond.
As the head of an important cabinetmaking workshop in Antibes and CNES (National Chamber of Specialized Experts) expert in furniture and artwork from the 17th and 18th centuries, Eric Reymond was for thirty years Jean Gismondi's right-hand man, mainly in charge of acquisitions.
Following Jean and Colette Gismondi's model, Sabrina Gismondi and Éric Reymond orchestrate the rue Royale establishment with passion and high standards. Their expertise, combined with the knowledge of their team, reflects the specificity of the antique dealer's profession. Acquisitions made under the watchful eye of Eric Reymond, nourished by the in-depth research conducted by Laurence Armando, art historian, regularly turn out to be beautiful discoveries. The latest was a quadretto representing Pegasus with Bellerophon at the Pirene fountain, attributed to Domenico Florentino (Italy, 16th century).
Besides the gallery, the Gismondi's present their most beautiful objects in a monumental setting located in the hills of Antibes, acquired by Jean and Colette in 1989: la Bastide du Roy. This magnificent property was the wedding gift of Henri IV, in 1608, then of the Count of Polignac and his wife, Marie-Blanche Lanvin — courtesy of the famous designer Jeanne Lanvin. Artists are warmly welcomed here, sometimes staying for several years, as César did. This mythical residence, today a high place for receptions in the French Riviera, has been managed since 2017 by Divina Gismondi, the youngest daughter of the couple, herself specialized in modern and contemporary art.
Since 2021, Marius Jacob-Gismondi embodies the third generation of Gismondi at the gallery on Rue Royale. Also specializing in modern and contemporary art — he founded Darmo Art with Alexis de Bernède in 2018 —, Sabrina Gismondi's son extends his grandfather's ambition by working to reduce the boundaries that still separate the art of yesterday and today.