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Things I Love: The Many Collections Of William I. Koch

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It isn't often that you run across an exhibition catalog that
is both an excellent record of an exhibition and a very enjoyable art book. This book chronicles the collections of
William I. Koch, someone with the financial resources, taste,and knowledge to assemble a very fine collection of
varied items. The exhibition took place at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 2005.

Most museum collections have items that have been acquired from personal collections whether from a donation or a bequest from an estate. It isn't often that a museum will have a collection of a living person, and one that is so varied.

Mr. Koch has wide interests, from racing yachts ( won the America's cup)to collecting fine art and paintings, to collecting Marine art, to collecting old west guns and memorabilia, to fine wines. Amongst his amazing wine collection are some original unopened bottles of wine from Thomas Jefferson's estate.

In the book you'll see his collections in there original settings, his estates in Palm Beach Florida, and Osterville,
Cape Cod. There is the stunning collection of art with pieces by Dali, Magrite, Picasso, Matisse, Degas. Bronzes by Remington and western art. There is the marine art collection with pieces that represent his famous ancestor
Captain Lawrence from the war of 1812.

In short this is a very pleasurable book to read and own, something that will always be fun to look through over the years.

It is very much to the credit of the MFA that such fine catalogue ise published. This collection of works collected by William Koch reflects the personal taste of the collector but also of the museum. Wisely, this catalogue is lead by good essays. The photographs accompany the texts in appropriate places. But the overwhelming part of the book is the art itself. These are paintings of fine quality. The reader makes refreshing discoveries on almost every page. This is an historically important, aesthetically rewarding book that deserves audience.

This book is a well written and researched overview of one man's remarkable collection. What distiguishes this collection from so many others of today is the clearly individual stamp of the collector-the works are diverse, from guns to Picasso but everything in it is of the finest quality. Here is a collection worthy of the appellation outstanding.

Michael Carr,
Sydney, Australia.

Things I Love: The Many Collections Of William I. Koch presents the holdings of a cultural benefactor who has been an important financial resource and collector of the world's most valuable art objects. Koch is internationally known as an engineer, businessman and sailor - and he's also a collector of fine art, wine and firearms of world-class origins. His collection holds such famous names as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Remington and more, and THINGS I LOVE surveys the nature and extent of his vast collection, packing full-page color photos on every page.