Charles Deering

Identity:

Charles Deering was a Chicago print collector.

Life:

Deering was born into a wealthy family in Paris, Maine. His father William Deering owned a wholesale dry goods business and was interested in real estate before going into the harvesting manufacturing business in 1870. In 1873 Deering accepted a diploma from the Maritime Academy and served as an officer in the American Navy in 1881. He then followed his father into the world of commerce, working with the Deering Harvester Company as the company's secretary; his brother James also joined the firm. In 1902 the company merged with nineteen others, including its principal rival the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, to form the International Harvester (IH). Deering served as its Chairman from 1904 until 1918.

A close friend of the international painter, etcher and sculptor Anders Zorn, Deering's portrait and that of his father and brother were painted by the Swedish artist. Zorn gave Deering the use of his studio in Paris in 1893. Deering was also friendly with John Singer Sargent. He and his wife Marion Whipple Deering had a son, Roger Deering, who was painted by the artist Wayman Adams. Deering formed an impressive collection of old master and contemporary prints including works by Zorn and many Whistler etchings, largely from the French, Thames and Venice sets, but also including the more rare K0670202, K2440102, K2890202 and K3440102. The Charles Deering Collection was acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago, IL, 1927. His brother James was also a discerning collector.

The Deering Library of the Northwestern University Library opened in 1933 through Deering's philanthropy (he was a trustee), housing books specialising in art, music and maps, and holding the University Archives. Deering was also behind the building of the Palau Maricel in Sitges, Spain, in 1910, with the artist Miquel Utrillo i Morlius. Deering's portrait, painted by the Catalan artist Ramon Casas i Carbó is housed at the Museu Maricel, a building formerly owned by Deering and connected by a bridge to the Palau Maricel.

Bibliography:

Lugt, Frits, Les marques de collections de dessins et d'estampes: marques estampillèes et écrites de collections particulières et publiques; marques de marchands, de monteurs et d'imprimeurs; etc..., Amsterdam, 1921 (516); http://www.deeringestate.com/pages/International-Harvester-Company.aspx (accessed August 2009); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Deering (accessed August 2009); http://www.library.northwestern.edu/art/read_rm_art.html (accessed August 2009).