Galerie Charpentier

Galerie Charpentier was a Parisian gallery and art-auction venue associated with historic and contemporary art. Its premises stood at 76 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, on the corner of rue Duras in the 8th arrondissement, almost opposite the Élysée Palace. The address originated as an aristocratic residence rather than as a purpose-built gallery: in 1802, the Comte d'Orglandes commissioned a mansion there, and the property later passed through the hands of Colonel d'Andlau d'Orvillers and, at an uncertain date, the Mouthier-Dehayin family. The venue became associated with Jean Charpentier, a collector who succeeded the Mouthier-Dehayin family as owner or occupant. He gradually opened the property and its collections to the public, using the main courtyard as an exhibition setting. The gallery's documented public program included a 1924 exhibition devoted to Théodore Géricault. This early activity established the address as a place where private collecting, public display, and the Paris art market overlapped. Following the dissolution of the Galeries Georges Petit company in 1933, the Charpentier premises hosted prestige auctions described in contemporary accounts as taking place at the Hôtel de Jean Charpentier. The venue also accommodated exhibitions beyond a single commercial gallery program. In 1939 it hosted an exhibition associated with Réalités Nouvelles, and in 1941 it presented a posthumous exhibition of works by Émile Bernard. The site also had a cultural role during the German Occupation and the early 1940s: historical accounts identify the gallery with the first five concerts of the Pléiade, held from February through June 1943. Sources differ in the spelling of the name of the gallery's owner or operator during this period, rendering it as Raymond Nacenta or Raymond Nasenta. Raymond Nacenta is identified as the owner of the gallery from 1948. Under his ownership, the premises continued to host exhibitions and notable auctions. The venue's importance as an auction location was later challenged by changes in Paris's auction infrastructure. At the beginning of the 1960s, the city offered Parisian auctioneers favorable rental arrangements at the Palais Galliéra, which became a fashionable setting for prestigious art sales. This shift contributed to the decline of the Faubourg-Saint-Honoré premises as a leading auction address. After its gallery period, the building passed through several commercial uses. It became the Paris headquarters of Fives-Lille, whose installation demonstrated the company's use of steel through highly standardized office interiors. At the end of the 1980s, the rooms on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré were rented to Pierre Cardin, who established a restaurant there. In 1988, Sotheby's, which had maintained a Paris presence since 1967, selected the building for its Paris offices. The former Galerie Charpentier address is consequently best understood as a historic cultural and commercial site rather than an active independent gallery brand.

The building associated with Galerie Charpentier began as a private aristocratic residence. In 1802, the Comte d'Orglandes had a mansion constructed at 76 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, at the corner of rue Duras in Paris's 8th arrondissement. The property was sold in 1821 to Colonel d'Andlau d'Orvillers and later became associated with the Mouthier-Dehayin family. The precise date at which it changed hands to that family is not established in the available reference material. Jean Charpentier, a collector, subsequently became associated with the property and its collections. Rather than immediately operating as a conventional commercial gallery, the site developed through the gradual opening of private holdings to visitors. A gallery was arranged in the main courtyard, making the hôtel particulier available for public cultural use. In 1924, Charpentier organized an exhibition devoted to Théodore Géricault, providing a documented example of the venue's early exhibition activity. The site's role expanded after the dissolution of Galeries Georges Petit in 1933. Prestige auctions were then held at what contemporary descriptions called the Hôtel de Jean Charpentier. The premises also hosted exhibitions connected with broader artistic movements. In 1939, an exhibition associated with Réalités Nouvelles was held there. In 1941, the Paris public was shown a posthumous exhibition of works by Émile Bernard. The building also became a venue for music and literary-cultural activity. Research cited in historical accounts places the first five concerts of the Pléiade at the gallery between February and June 1943. The ownership attribution for this period is not entirely consistent in the references: the name appears as Raymond Nacenta in the gallery history and as Raymond Nasenta in another account. Raymond Nacenta is identified as the owner from 1948, and during his tenure exhibitions and important auctions continued to be organized at the address. The gallery's position within the Paris auction world weakened during the early 1960s. The city of Paris offered auctioneers favorable rental conditions at the Palais Galliéra, which became a fashionable location for prestigious art auctions. As auction activity shifted toward that venue, the former Charpentier premises lost some of their prominence as a leading sales address. The building later underwent a series of non-gallery uses. Fives-Lille occupied it as its Paris headquarters and installed standardized offices intended to demonstrate the company's capabilities with steel. At the end of the 1980s, Pierre Cardin rented the rooms on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré and opened a restaurant there. In 1988, Sotheby's, which had been established in Paris since 1967, selected the building for its Paris offices. The site therefore retained a connection with the art market, but the independent Galerie Charpentier itself no longer operated as an active gallery.

• 1988

  Sotheby's establishes Paris offices in the building

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  Sotheby's selected the former Galerie Charpentier building for its Paris offices.

• 1960

  Auction activity shifts toward the Palais Galliéra

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  Favorable municipal rental conditions helped make the Palais Galliéra a fashionable venue for prestigious Paris auctions, reducing the relative importance of the Charpentier address.

• 1948

  Raymond Nacenta becomes owner

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  Raymond Nacenta became the owner associated with the gallery's postwar exhibition and auction program.

• 1943

  First five Pléiade concerts

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The first five concerts of the Pléiade series were held at the premises from February to June.

• 1941

  Émile Bernard posthumous exhibition

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The gallery presented a posthumous exhibition of Émile Bernard's works.

• 1939

  Réalités Nouvelles exhibition

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The venue hosted an exhibition associated with Réalités Nouvelles.

• 1933

  Prestige auction activity begins after Galeries Georges Petit dissolution

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The Hôtel de Jean Charpentier became a setting for prestige art auctions after the dissolution of Galeries Georges Petit.

• 1924

  Géricault exhibition

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  Jean Charpentier organized an exhibition devoted to Théodore Géricault at the premises.

• 1821

  Property sold to Colonel d'Andlau d'Orvillers

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The mansion changed ownership when the Comte d'Orglandes sold it to Colonel d'Andlau d'Orvillers.

• 1802

  Mansion constructed at 76 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré

  [1]Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org

  The Comte d'Orglandes had an aristocratic mansion built at the future Galerie Charpentier address.

A prestigious Parisian art venue combining private collection display, exhibitions, high-value auctions, and cultural events in an aristocratic hôtel particulier near the Élysée Palace.

Product categories. Art exhibitions · Prestige art auctions · Cultural events and concerts

• 1941Émile Bernard posthumous exhibition

  France

  The premises presented a posthumous exhibition of Émile Bernard's work.

  Outcome. The exhibition brought Bernard's work to the Paris public after his death.

  Source
• 1939Réalités Nouvelles exhibition

  France

  The gallery hosted an exhibition associated with Réalités Nouvelles.

  Outcome. The event demonstrated the venue's participation in contemporary artistic exhibition activity.

  Source
• 1924Géricault exhibition

  France

  An exhibition devoted to Théodore Géricault was organized by Jean Charpentier and opened the private collection setting to a wider public.

  Outcome. The exhibition reinforced the premises' role as a public art venue.

  Source

• 1988

  The building is repurposed for Sotheby's Paris officesStrategy

  Background

  After the gallery's period and intervening commercial uses, Sotheby's sought a Paris office location with an established connection to the art market.

  Action taken

  Sotheby's selected the former Galerie Charpentier building for its Paris offices.

  Aftermath

  The address remained associated with the Paris art trade, although Galerie Charpentier no longer operated as an independent gallery.

  Source

1. 1Galerie Charpentieren.wikipedia.org