Domenica Guillaume Walter and l'Affaire Lacaze

Aug 21, 2024

Domenica Guillaume Walter, a woman entwined in drama, faced accusations of murder, blackmail, and forgery after her husband's death. In this engaging discussion, she shares her journey through art scandal and complex relationships in a post-WWII world. The narrative dives into the influence of African art on European modernism, revealing its often overlooked history. From shocking murder plots involving adoption complications to the chaos of her social circle, Domenica's life is a scandalous tapestry filled with intrigue, manipulation, and unexpected twists.

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Intro

00:00 • 5min

The Impact of African Art on European Modernism

04:32 • 3min

The Art of Influence: A Dealer's Legacy

07:08 • 10min

The Turbulent Legacy of Domenica

16:43 • 7min

Aftermath and Allegations: The Jean Walter Case

24:05 • 5min

Murder, Betrayal, and Bourbon Tales

29:09 • 17min

Killer Cocktails Unveiled

46:12 • 5min

Domenica Guillaume Walter’s life was full of drama and scandal. She was accused of attempted murder, blackmail, and forgery as she tried to maintain control of her late husband’s art collection.

Research:

Bondar, Yaroslava. “Domenica Guillaume Walter's Crimes of Dispassion.” Cultured. 3/21/2023. https://www.culturedmag.com/article/2023/03/21/domenica-guillaume-walter-art-scandal
By ROBERT C. DOTY, Special to The New York Times. "THE PARIS SCANDALS: INTRIGUE IN HIGH PLACES." New York Times (1923-), Feb 08 1959, p. 1. ProQuest. Web. 8 Aug. 2024 .
Clerc, Christine. “L’Étonnante Histoire de la Collection Walter-Guillaume a l’Orangerie.” Revue des Deux Mondes. February 2020. Via JSTOR. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26891298
Fraquelli, Simonetta and Cindy Kang. “Marie Laurencin: Sapphic Paris.” The Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia. Yale University Press.
HARRISS, JOSEPH A. "THE Pygmalion OF THE AVANT-GARDE : WHILE THE ART ESTABLISHMENT SCOFFED AT MODERN PAINTING, PAUL GUILLAUME AMASSED ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST COLLECTIONS, NOW TRAVELING IN NORTH AMERICA." Smithsonian, vol. 31, no. 8, Nov. 2000, p. 88. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66278406/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=6623725e. Accessed 7 Aug. 2024.
Mahler, Luise, "Paul Guillaume," The Modern Art Index Project (January 2015), Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. https://doi.org/10.57011/WMTE1884
Musée de l'Orangerie. “History of the collection.” https://www.musee-orangerie.fr/en/collection/les-arts-a-parishistory-of-the-collection
Musée de l'Orangerie. “Musée de l'Orangerie: catalogue of the Jean Walter et Paul Guillaume collection.” Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, Editions de la Réunion des musées nationaux. 1987. https://archive.org/details/musedelorangerie0000muse/
Richardson, John. “Crimes of the Art.” Vanity Fair. 4/5/2012. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2001/03/domenica-guillaume-walter-art-scandal
Snell, David. “France Again Enjoys a Notable Scandal.” Life. 3/16/1959.
Special Correspondent of the Post-Dispatch. “Murder for $160,000,000?” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 4/19/1959.
Special to The New York Times. "LACAZE AFFAIR REVIVED: REST OF ALLEGED MURDER MONEY SURRENDERED IN PARIS." New York Times (1923-), Jul 08 1959, p. 3. ProQuest. Web. 8 Aug. 2024 .
Special to The New York Times. "LACAZE CHARGES CUT: TWO ACCUSATIONS IN AFFAIR OF PARIS FAMILY DROPPED." New York Times (1923-), Jun 15 1960, p. 6. ProQuest. Web. 8 Aug. 2024 .
Special to The New York Times. "PHYSICIAN JAILED IN PARIS SCANDAL: DOCTOR-FRIEND OF WEALTHY WIDOW REPORTED ACCUSED OF PLOT TO KILL STEPSON." New York Times (1923-), Mar 14 1959, p. 5. ProQuest. Web. 8 Aug. 2024 .
Special to The New York Times. "SENSATIONAL CASE STIRS PARIS ANEW: RICH WIDOW SEES BLACKMAIL AIMED AT HER IN LACAZE CONSPIRACY CHARGE." New York Times (1923-), Feb 06 1959, p. 7. ProQuest. Web. 8 Aug. 2024.
“Foreign News: The Lacaze Labyrinth.” 3/9/1959. https://time.com/archive/6888465/foreign-news-the-lacaze-labyrinth/
“FRANCE: LAffaire Lacaze.” 2/2/1959. https://time.com/archive/6829115/france-laffaire-lacaze/
Murrell, Denise. “African Influences in Modern Art.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/aima/hd_aima.htm (April 2008)

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