On the eve of the opening of a major exhibition of masterpieces from The Leiden Collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings – the largest ever assemblage of 17th century Dutch paintings to visit China – we hear from Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan, founder of the Leiden Collection. The visiting collection will include eleven paintings by Rembrandt—the greatest number of works by the master in private hands—as well as Vermeer’s Young Woman Seated at a Virginal, the first painting by the celebrated artist to travel to Beijing.
Dr. Kaplan will speak to FCCC members about the impact of Chinese interest and investment in old European masters and what he describes as the transformation of the cultural world as a result of Chinese engagement with Western Art.

Joining Dr. Kaplan on the panel is Ms. Cai Jinqing, Chairman of Christie’s China. Ms. Cai will examine the recent trends in the Chinese art market, and the developing interest of Chinese art collectors in Western paintings.

Thomas S. Kaplan is an American entrepreneur, global investor, philanthropist and art collector. He is the Chairman of The Electrum Group LLC, a New York City-based investment, advisory and asset management firm with a focus on the natural resources sector. Dr. Kaplan and his wife, Daphne Recanati Kaplan, began to collect the art of the Dutch Golden Age in 2003 and within a few years established The Leiden Collection, the largest and most important assembly of 17th century Dutch art in private hands.  The Kaplans are active lenders of art to museums internationally and Dr. Kaplan’s activities in the fields of art and culture include his service as President (2009-12) and Chairman (2012-15) of New York’s 92nd Street Y, among New York City’s premier cultural and community centers.  He currently serves as Chairman of the 92Y’s highly esteemed Talks and Conversations series.  Dr. and Mrs. Kaplan are among the leading funders of wildlife conservation in the world, having invested over $100 million in environmental pursuits over the last decade. They founded Panthera in 2006 to protect and preserve big cats and their critical eco-systems from extinction. Dr. Kaplan has also worked to establish close ties with Chinese philanthropists.

Jinqing Cai is the Chairman of Christie’s China. Ms. Cai joined Christie’s as the Managing Director of Christie’s China in 2012. She was appointed President of Christie’s China in 2014 and hence appointed to the current role in 2016. Ms. Cai has successfully led the strategic business expansion and client engagement for Christie’s China. Christie’s became the first international auction house to obtain the license to operate independently in China in 2013. Christie’s launched its inaugural sale in China in 2013 and subsequently opened two new art spaces in Shanghai in 2014 and Beijing in 2016. Ms. Cai plays a senior advisory role to art collectors, funds, private and public art institutions on art collecting and market trends. She was also nominated by Foreign Policy and listed in “The Pacific Power Index” in 2015 as one of the 50 people shaping the future of U.S. and China relationship, acknowledging her efforts in raising the profile of Chinese art, at home and abroad.

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