Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi (18 March 1878 - 22 October 1955) was an Italian politician,

art collector A private collection is a privately owned collection of works (usually artworks) or valuable items. In a museum or art gallery context, the term signifies that a certain work is not owned by that institution, but is on loan from an individual ...

dealer Dealer may refer to: Film and TV * ''Dealers'' (film), a 1989 British film * ''Dealers'' (TV series), a reality television series where five art and antique dealers bid on items * ''The Dealer'' (film), filmed in 2008 and released in 2010 * ...

and

philatelist Philately (; ) is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting or the study of postage; it is possi ...

. In 1939 he was made a Senator of the Kingdom of

Vittorio Emanuele III Victor Emmanuel III (Vittorio Emanuele Ferdinando Maria Gennaro di Savoia; 11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947) was King of Italy from 29 July 1900 until his abdication on 9 May 1946. He also reigned as Emperor of Ethiopia (1936–1941) and ...

Early life

Contini-Bonacossi was born in

Ancona Ancona (, also , ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region in central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region. The city is located northeast of Rome, on the Adriatic S ...

on 18 March 1878 to Camillo Contini and the Countess Elena Bonacossi Bermudez of Ferrara.

Political career

In 1928, Contini-Bonacossi was made a Count by Vittorio Emanuele III. In 1939 he became a Senator.

Nazi era

Through

Walter Hofer Walter Andreas Hofer (1893 – c. 1971) was a German art dealer who was Hermann Göring's principal art agent, director of the Göring Collection and a key player in Nazi looted art markets during the Second World War. Hofer is referenced 162 ...

, Contini-Bonacossi sourced art for the Göring Collection. Around 1942, Göring's art agent Sepp Angerer, and the local German consul

Gerhard Wolf Gerhard Wolf (12 August 1896 – 23 March 1971) was a German diplomat who served as consul in Florence during World War II. Wolf was born in Dresden, the seventh and youngest child of an attorney of family law. After serving in the military, he st ...

, went on a tour of Contini-Bonacossi's collection. Angerer supposedly told the count, "What a pity you're not a Jew!" and drawing a finger across his throat continued "If you were a Jew, we could do just that! And all the paintings would be ours!" Contini-Bonacossi was investigated in 1946 by the OSS Art Looting Investigation Unit for his role in dealing Nazi-looted art and placed on the Red Flag List of Names.

Philately

Contini-Bonacossi was a noted philatelist. He won a Gold-Silver medal at the

London International Stamp Exhibition 1960 The London International Stamp Exhibition was held at the Royal Festival Hall from 9 to 16 July 1960. Souvenir labels were produced for the event depicting Colonel Henry Bishop, as it was the tercentenary of the General Post Office.Philatelic Bull ...

for his display of Tuscany and a gold medal at WIPA 1965, also for Tuscany."WIPA 1965", H.R. Holmes, ''The London Philatelist'', Vol. 74, Aug-Sept. 1965, No. 872-873, p. 164.

Death

Contini-Bonacossi died in Florence on 22 October 1955.

References

External links

*http://www.yourwaytoflorence.com/db/musei/contini.htm 1878 births 1955 deaths Italian art dealers Italian art collectors Italian politicians Italian philatelists People from Ancona {{philatelist-stub