Hunt Henderson

Identity:

Hunt Henderson's father William came from Scotland, and had founded the Henderson Sugar Refinery in 1876; Hunt assumed control after his father’s death in 1900. In the 1880 US Federal Census, William (aged 52) was living with his wife Mary (aged 44) in New Orleans, and their children, Ellen H. (11), Sally (9) and Hunt (7), Elizabeth (6) and William (3). The children were all born in New Orleans.

Hunt's first wife Nancy was a trustee of the New Orleans Museum of Art.

He and his second wife Jeanne Crawford were still based in New Orleans but travelled widely in Europe with their son Charles (1920-2016). A sugar magnate, Hunt Henderson built up an important collection of Impressionist and Modernist art.

Life:

He bought modern art from Durand Ruel in New York from 1908 on. He bought widely from art dealers and collectors. Degas, Monet and Whistler were among his favourite artists.

When Hunt Henderson died in 1939, a group of works by Whistler were bequeathed to Tulane University, and later, in 1941, sold through the Macdonald Gallery, New York to Grenville L. Winthrop, who bequeathed them to Harvard University. These included Nocturne in Blue and Silver y113, Note in Red: The Siesta y254, Brown and Gold: Lillie 'In our Alley!' y464 and Harmony in Blue and Silver: Beaching the Boat, Étretat y483.

However, most of Henderson's collection remained with his wife Jeanne and their son Charles. After Jeanne Henderson’s death in 1970, the collection was partially dispersed.

Many works were sold at Christies 15-16 and 23 May 2017 including The Yellow Room m0881.

Bibliography:

'Works by Monet, Cézanne, Gauguin, Whistler and other masters from The Collection of Hunt Henderson', Christie's website. 'Burton Family Tree', Family Trees for Hunt Henderson, Ancestry.com.