Review

They are soul mates, man and wife united in their passion for modern art, their uncanny visual eye and their tireless desire to collect transcendent works by artists on the brink of discovery. He is a retired postman; she, a former librarian. Starting in the early 1960s, they managed to parlay their salaries into a priceless, groundbreaking collection that they gave to the National Gallery in 1992. Transporting the treasure was no mean feat. More than 4,000 pieces were crammed in a tiny space that also included a menagerie of pets. Some pieces by their artist friends were drawn or mounted directly on the wall. The Vogels accepted no monetary compensation for their donation. It was instead their wish that the collection remain intact so that the public could experience the works of Richard Tuttle, Christo, Pat Steir and others alongside each other. Herb and Dorothy are charming eccentrics whose story is certain to amuse, confound and inspire those of us who appreciate individuals with the strength of character to follow their dreams.