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Old world masters in new world collectionsEsther Singleton

Old world masters in new world collections

by OpenStories

Original author: Esther Singleton

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"Old World Masters in New World Collections" by Esther Singleton is an illustrated art history survey and catalogue written in the early 20th century. It documents European Old Master paintings that entered American private collections, blending brief school overviews with focused entries on individual works, their provenance, former owners, and aesthetic qualities. The volume foregrounds beauty, downplays martyrdom and violence, and underscores the roles of prominent collectors and dealers—especially Sir Joseph Duveen—in shaping America as a new repository of masterpieces. The opening of this volume presents a preface asserting the book’s novelty and scope, crediting American collectors and Duveen’s influence, listing celebrated works with illustrious provenances, arguing for the superior selectiveness of American collections, and declaring a “Beauty”-driven selection while noting extraordinary valuations. It then outlines the contents by national schools and begins with a clear, contextual primer on Sienese painting as a refined Gothic offshoot with Byzantine and possible Oriental affinities. Early entries describe Sassetta’s St. Francis scenes, Matteo di Giovanni’s brocaded Madonna, and Benvenuto di Giovanni’s lively Adoration, each with vivid formal analysis and ownership history.

Old world masters in new world collections, by Esther Singleton. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #77067.

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14 Chapters

  1. 1.Front Matter1,902 words
  2. 2.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (1)8,584 words
  3. 3.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (2)8,856 words
  4. 4.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (3)8,784 words
  5. 5.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (4)8,783 words
  6. 6.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (5)8,705 words
  7. 7.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (6)8,773 words
  1. 8.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (7)8,812 words
  2. 9.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (8)8,759 words
  3. 10.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (9)8,637 words
  4. 11.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (10)8,575 words
  5. 12.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (11)8,808 words
  6. 13.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (12)8,776 words
  7. 14.Chapter VII: English, Eighteenth Century 329–428 (13)6,297 words