Between Attribution and Misattribution

The Collection of Daniel Marie Fouquet and the Provenance of a Roman Head in the Getty Museum and a Counterweight in the Musée du Louvre

Abstract

The article examines the provenance history of two ancient objects: a Roman head in the Getty Museum (Inv.-No. 79.AA.135) and a counterweight in the Musée du Louvre (Inv.-No. E 25286). Both objects are linked to the collection of the French physician and antiquities collector Daniel Marie Fouquet (1850-1914). This research highlights the importance of a critical re-evaluation of existing documentation, particularly in relation to previous attributions and exclusions from the Fouquet collection. It also addresses a significant misunderstanding surrounding the 1922 auction of the collection, showing that several individuals involved have been misidentified in earlier research. These inaccuracies have contributed to confusion in reconstructing the collection’s history and dispersion. More broadly, the case demonstrates ongoing challenges in researching Fouquet’s collection and his historical network and provides a foundation for future research on Fouquet’s role as a collector and the relevance of provenance research today.