Page 44 - Sotheby's Indian Himalayan and Southeast Asian Wroks of Art March 2019

JOHANNES ERNST DUTT (1930–2018)

away in the army, he was tasked with cultures, with a concentration in India,
extinguishing fires in his neighborhood Nepal, and Tibet, as he was deeply moved
and his home. In 1945, he was drafted into by the spiritual beliefs of this region. He
the army in an antitank regiment, but built his South Asian and Himalayan Art
fortunately the war ended before he was collection, presented in this catalogue,
sent into combat. during the period 1970-1976. He also
It was during his formative years collected stamps, rare coins, antique cars,
after the war, that Johannes faced and European icons.
great obstacles in a country that had In 1977 Johannes emigrated to Canada
been totally destroyed. Through his with his family and settled in Ottawa,
exceptional performance in high school where he worked as Vice President of ABB,
he was able to attend an extensive English one of the world’s largest engineering
language program in England that was and construction conglomerates. Here,
being offered to German students. His first he worked in a truly global capacity and
foreign trip lit a wanderlust that would was able to visit ever more far-flung
remain a constant throughout his life. locations, which only fuelled his taste for
His first trip outside Europe was a exploration of other spiritual philosophies.
first class, two-month trip around the Following his retirement in 1995,
United States that was underwritten by a Johannes spent his days relishing the
US Army Colonel who had been extremely Ottawa countryside and the company
impressed with Johannes while stationed of his family, friends and beloved
Johannes Ernst Dutt was born on July 14, in Stuttgart. Johannes’s most memorable Rottweilers. During this period he also
1930 in Stuttgart, Germany. His father experience on his first visit to America built an impressive collection of Inuit art.
was a piano maker at Pfeiffer Piano, a high was the time he spent in Beale Street, Johannes Dutt was a caring and
end, boutique manufacturer of pianos, Memphis, where he sampled R&B for the compassionate human being. He
located in Stuttgart since 1864. It is first time, and struck up a friendship with appreciated the opportunities he had
through the influence of his family that performer B. B. King. been granted in life and loved sharing
Johannes immersed himself in the study Upon his return to Germany, Johannes his stories with one and all. He took
of music with the piano as his instrument decided to pursue a career more suited great pleasure in sharing his treasured
of choice. His first love was music, and it for the massive reconstruction of the art collection in particular with friends
was anticipated that he would continue his German nation after the war and so and reliving the experiences associated
education into a career as a professional entered University as an engineering with each object. Musician, engineer,
pianist. student. After graduation he was hired in businessman, linguist, art collector,
However, the outbreak of World his first job with Bosch GmbH and during Johannes Dutt was indeed a true
War II in 1939 changed everything for the following decades, enjoyed a fruitful renaissance man in a modern world.
Johannes. It had a profound impact on career ascending to the position of Vice Sotheby’s is proud to present this
the person he would become, and how he President at Siemens. masterpiece – a rare and important
saw the world. Stuttgart was an important As a natural connoisseur of history, Vajravali mandala – and other Indian and
industrial center and so bore the brunt of art and culture, who had been afforded an Himalayan works of note from the Estate
Allied bombings. Johannes would recount opportunity to travel the world, Johannes of Johannes Dutt.
how, as a 14 year old boy, with his father began collecting the art of various

42 SOTHEBY’S INDIAN, HIMALAYAN & SOUTHEAST ASIAN WORKS OF ART