The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, generally refers to the personal collection of former leaders John De Menil and Dominique de Menil, both of whom founded the company founded by Menil. The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, is also referred to as the Menil Collection. The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, is described as both a museum and a collection by its creators, John and Dominique Menil. The collection, which includes some of the most famous artists who came from different parts of France and were brought to America by Louis Comfort Tiffany, includes everything from the Impressionist art, which had its origins in Paris, to more modern art, which originated in the Netherlands. The collection also includes art from Spain, Italy, England, Germany, China, Japan, and the Caribbean. Information can be found here.
John de Menil was born in France in 1886 and immigrated to Texas with his family shortly after arriving. He served in World War II in the U.S. Army, later serving as a combat photographer for the U.S. Air Force. He was involved in the development of the atomic bomb used at Nagasaki during World War II and was instrumental in helping to determine the atomic composition of the bomb that would be used on Nagasaki. De Menil retired from the Air Force in 1950 and was instrumental in the founding of The Menill Company in Houston, Texas. He died in 1974. Dominique de Menil served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in Vietnam in 1967. See here for information about The Interesting History of the Museum of Fine Art in Houston, TX.
The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas, was created in 1970 to honor John De Menil and Dominique de Menil for their significant contributions to the American business community. It was founded in Houston by Albert Lasker, Jr., a real estate developer who had purchased the Menil Company’s interests in Houston. The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas contains one of the largest private collections of art, including contemporary art, modern art, and Impressionist art. There are also important collections of Civil War, Art Deco, Oriental, and American Folk Art. The collections also include some original artworks dating back over four hundred years.