A Sampling of Berlin Museums at the Legion of Honor

Celebrating the legacy of a prominent art collector of the past century, “The State Museums of Berlin and the Legacy of James Simon” opened in the Legion of Honor, presented by the San Francisco Auxiliary of the Fine Arts Museums. In his day, Simon (1851–1932) solely sponsored excavations in Egypt, the Near East, and Central Asia, and brought back to Berlin the world-famous bust of Nefertiti and the Ishtar Gate of Babylon—besides thousands of other artifacts from different epochs and countries of origin he collected and donated to his beloved city. A German Jew, Simon died on the brink of Nazism, when his legacy of philanthropy, dedication to social welfare, and overwhelming contributions to the status of Berlin as one of the major art capitals of the world was erased by the regime, along with a number of his family members. Tim Simon, an American descendant of the famous collector, became a major patron of the current exhibition, and spoke at the opening about his family history and the enormous wealth of the Berlin art museums yet to be discovered by many Americans. Some of James Simon’s antiquities, medieval, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures, Old Master paintings, works on paper including 18th- and 19th-century Japanese woodcuts, art pieces of the Silk Road, European folk art, and coins and medals are presented in the exhibition, along with an early Renoir painting, and “The Mill Dam” by Courbet—the last gift from the collector before he passed away. The show is on view through January 18 2009 at Lincoln Park, 34th Avenue and Clement Street, San Francisco. More info at 415.750.3600 or www.legionofhonor.org; www.smb.museum Photo by Emma Krasov. Diane B. Wilsey, President of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and Prof. Dr. Bernd Lindemann, Director of Gemaldegalerie, State Museums of Berlin, discussing the bust of Nefertiti at the opening.