Collector without Walls

The American art collector Norton Simon assembled his astonishing collection of more than 8,000 artworks in just thirty-five years. In 1966, with no permanent home for the growing collection, Simon created his museum without walls programlending works to American museumswhich continued until 1974, when his collection was housed in the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, today considered one of the finest museums in the United States. This beautiful book gives the history of Simons art collection, including the most interesting acquisitions and deaccessions. It describes Simons early life and business career, chronicles the collections development until his last purchase in 1989, and analyzes the collection and the collector. A fully illustrated catalogue of artworks, including those deaccessioned, completes the account. The book draws from the archives of the Norton Simon Museum and transcripts of interviews with friends, colleagues, art dealers, and museum professionals, as well as unpublished writings by Norton Simon. Distributed for The Norton Simon Art Foundation