A History of American Women Art Collectors

Female collectors and patrons have shaped art history for centuries—commissioning works of art, initiating trends, and patronizing artists. Many of these collections have formed the basis of important museums, while others have built their own museums. In this course, we look at some of the major historic figures who helped to build these collections and helped to introduce artists to the world. The significance of this patronage is seen in figures such at Isabella Stewart Gardner, Bertha Potter Palmer, and Lousine Havemeyer. Stars in the avant-garde art world include Gertrude Stein, The Cone Sisters, and Peggy Guggenheim. And the founders of significant museums include “the Ladies” of MoMA, Gertrude Whitney Vanderbilt and Dominique de Menil. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.