[LOUIS DURR]
Louis Durr was born in Carlsruhe, Germany, in 1821, and died in New York City, March 31, 1880. His father was the Treasurer of the Duke of Baden-Baden, and was a watch-maker by trade, as well as a dealer in works of art.
Mr. Durr graduated from the Lyceum in his native city, and after visiting Geneva and Paris, came to this country with his brother in 1848 and for a time was connected with Balbach's gold smelting works in Newark, N. J. In 1853-54 he was established at 111 Nassau Street, this city, as a refiner of gold and silver. In 1856 he removed to 51 Ann Street and the following year to 53 Ann Street, where he carried on his business as an assayer and refiner for many years with his brother.
He accumulated a fortune and spent all his spare time studying and collecting works of art. He lived at No. 30 East 4th Street, where he kept his paintings.
He was a member of the Liederkranz Club, then near his home, and became a member of this Society in 1873.
By will Mr. Durr directed that the most meritorious works of art were to be selected from his gallery of paintings and placed by his executors in some public art gallery, to be known as the "Durr Gallery of Paintings," the residue of his paintings to be sold and the proceeds invested for the purchase of suitable additions for the "Durr Gallery of Paintings."
In 1880 the executors of his estate under the terms of his will offered the collection of paintings to The New York Historical Society, and in 1882 they were transferred to the Society, together with the proceeds of the above-mentioned sale, which the Society designated the "Durr Gallery Fund" and from which the Gallery is added to.
17. BUST OF LOUIS DURR. IN BRONZE.
HENRY BAERER.