MILANO E IL MERCATO DELL¿ARTE NELLA SECONDA METÀ DELL¿OTTOCENTO.IL RUOLO DEGLI ANTIQUARI

The correspondence of the Grandi family company (1851-1927) provides an unpublished source of information for the study of the Milanese art market in the second half of the 19th century, observed from an as yet unexplored perspective: the one of art dealers. The investigation of the archive materials - almost six hundred documents, including letters, drafts, invoices and dispatch notes - has revealed not only the professional history of Antonio Grandi (1810-1877) and his sons Carlo (1842-1914) and Antonio (1857-1923), but also the company's international contacts and commercial strategies. Particular attention has been dedicated to the business relationship with the printseller Marseille Middleton Holloway (1809-1897) from London, that has given an in-depth insight into the European market of reproductive engravings, in which the Grandi company had a true specialisation. The documents also encouraged further research on Giuseppe Baslini (1817-1887), the most important dealer of paintings and art objects operating in Milan in the second half of the 19th century.