Double Vision: The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil by William Middleton (review)

William Middleton's recent publication is a smart biography chronicling the lives of Dominique and John de Menil, household names to much of the art world, especially in Houston, Texas. Avid history readers will delight in Middleton's detailed interpretation of the de Menil and Schlumberger family history, presenting both a genealogical tree and ancestral account rife with facts, drama, and the origins of both families' business and financial affairs in Europe. While some may find these biographical points insignificant and tedious at times, they are pivotal to understanding two key components of the de Menil art legacy that originated in Paris and ultimately planted its roots in Texas: first, Dominique and John's role as what Middleton calls "Art World Avatars," and second, what brought them and their collection, passion, and vision, to Houston.

This second point is a question that many have likely pondered as they reveled over the Menil Collection or read of the de Menil legacy planted firmly in Houston—a "cowboy" city characterized by outsiders as rodeo-loving, boot-scooting, oil folks and decidedly not what most would view as an international art mecca. Oil, however, is a key player in this story, and Middleton pens a detailed history of the Schlumberger family business, the Société de Prospection Electrique, founded by Conrad Schlumberger and his brother, Marcel, as well as Conrad's prospecting ventures. Shortly after the onset of World War II, Dominique and John emigrated to the United States where John eventually became the president of the Schlumberger family business in Houston.

Middleton paints a vivid picture of these two avatars as a symbiotic pair whose hard work, love of culture, passion for collecting, and sense of social justice built a dynamic bond that continues to propel the de Menil legacy, mission, and museum. Although they came from different religious backgrounds, which affected their character and habits, there was a dynamic synergy behind their collecting and philanthropic goals, which evolved into a museum and legacy that is now an international landmark. Middleton's lengthy and informative description of their childhood and family lives, especially Dominique's relationship with her father, Conrad, and John's youthful travels and business expertise, helps explain their growth into said avatars. Their upbringing and way of life revolved around the hard work and determination that were seemingly innate to their genetic makeup, powerfully propelling their passion for art, people, and education.

Another key point is that this tome is in all counts a dual biography, focusing equally on Dominique and John. Many often forget John's importance because he passed away in 1973, prior to the museum's opening, but his role is significant and must be credited and remembered equally with that of Dominique. Middleton does an admirable job of emphasizing the importance of both figures; his book undoubtedly fills a void in this sense, providing a scholarly publication that details facts regarding Dominique and John's history. The amount of biographical detail and stories from personal correspondence causes Middleton's biography to stand out in contrast to previous scholarship. His substantial bibliography highlights texts that served as a resource, as well as the numerous archival sources he scoured, including the Archives Nationales of France and Menil Archives housed at the Menil Collection. Middleton constructs a vivid picture of Dominique and John's life through these sources, instilling both with a sense of humanity and relevance to the present, as if he had watched their life together first hand.

This book's thirty-three chapters are organized into five parts (The Museum Imagined, The Old World, War, New Frontiers, and A Very Strong Woman). Middleton's writing style is accessible; whether you are a connoisseur, art historian, or just interested in Houston history, you will enjoy this text. His organizational system makes it relatively easy to search for topics by...