A Transformational Gift for the Clark Art Institute
Museums often dream of receiving either a substantial collection of priceless artworks or a significant financial contribution. However, it is quite rare for them to be blessed with both simultaneously. This week, the Clark Art Institute located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is thrilled to announce an extraordinary dual gift from the Aso O. Tavitian Foundation. This remarkable donation includes a stunning collection of 331 works by esteemed European artists spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. Notable names in this collection include Hans Memling, Peter Paul Rubens, Parmigianino, Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Jean-Antoine Watteau, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
In addition to the invaluable artworks, the foundation is also providing over $45 million to finance the construction of a new wing dedicated to housing this impressive collection, ensuring its proper care, and creating a new curator position to oversee the collection. “It’s an unbelievable thing that’s happening to the Clark,” remarked the museum’s director, Olivier Meslay, who added that this gift represents the “most transformational donation” since the museum was established, thanks to the foundational bequest from collectors Sterling and Francine Clark, after whom the institute is named.
Aso Tavitian, the philanthropist behind this monumental gift, was a software entrepreneur who began cultivating his passion for art in 2004. His deep connection to the Clark Art Institute was evident throughout his life, as he served on its board of trustees and even showcased some of his personal collection in a 2011 exhibition. Tavitian, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 80, was originally born in Bulgaria to Armenian parents. After immigrating to the United States in 1961, he built a successful career in the software industry, which ultimately enabled him to amass his remarkable art collection.
According to Candace Beinecke, president of the Tavitian Foundation, the estimated value of this extraordinary gift—comprising 132 paintings, 130 sculptures, 39 drawings, and 30 decorative arts objects—is likely to be several hundred million dollars. “He had princely taste,” Meslay noted, reflecting on Tavitian’s sophisticated aesthetic and discerning eye for art. The impact of this donation is sure to resonate within the art community and enhance the cultural landscape of the Clark Art Institute for years to come.
