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Federico Benthem 1944–2017
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2017, Federico embarked
on the most intense voyage of his life—the one
that would take him to the next world. Born in
the Andalusian town of Málaga on November 20,
1944, Federico Benthem Gross was the grandson
of Julia Loring Heredia, the third Marquesa of
Casa Loring, and of Ricardo Gross Orueta, the
founder of the Museo Loringiano de Arqueologia
de Málaga. While still a young child, Federico
received an important gift of artworks from his
grandfather. It marked the beginning of his life as
a collector and the birth of a limitless passion for
archaeology and antiquity that would shape his
existence.
At the age of eighteen, Federico left for Barcelona
to pursue architecture studies. During this
time, he also took his fi rst trips to the American
continent, where he visited Peru and especially
Mexico, developing interest in the pre-Hispanic
cultures, the artworks of which he actively began
to collect. He was a tireless adventurer and traveled
the world as his passion for the traditional
cultures of the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and
Asia continued to grow. His enduring fascination
for art and culture gave rise to his decision to become
an art dealer.
He began to construct his professional life in
Barcelona, and he participated in many national
and international fairs, as well as in congresses
and exhibitions. As a member of the Barcelona
Association of Antique Dealers, he quickly
gained the recognition of his peers and the confi -
dence of his clients. Federico was also admired by
more than just a few collectors—sometimes jealously—
for the quality of the pieces that he kept
in his personal collection. His exquisite taste, his
in-depth knowledge, and his charisma made him
a primary reference point in Spain and a well-respected
expert outside of his native country.
In the last years of his life, retired from active
life and living in a beautiful villa in Marbella, he
cultivated a new passion for landscaping. The garden
he created was on the same level of quality as
his home’s interior, where the array of artworks
from various periods and provenances dazzled
his visitors. The consummate host that he was,
Federico never tired of receiving friends, clients,
and acquaintances in this privileged environment.
The evenings were long and were animated by
impassioned and fascinating conversations on art
and the joys of life.
His friends will never forget his extroverted and
ebullient character. Federico, we will miss you,
and you will always be in our thoughts.
DAVID SERRA
Photo: David Serra
Oceania, and the Americas at the Israel Museum.
We benefi tted from her professional input, her encouragement
of our work, and her insistence on
taste as a main criterion in choosing works to collect.
She and Martin were a powerful team, infecting
us all with their love and passion for the beauty
and the ingenuity of tribal art. Faith’s sharp eye,
good taste, and instinctive sense of what is good
art, coupled with her keen sense of humor, vitality,
and enthusiasm, will be sorely missed by all.
DORIT SHAFIR