Avery, Samuel Putnam, 1822-1904

American artist, connoisseur, and art dealer, born Mar. 17, 1822 in New York City; died there on Aug. 11, 1904. Avery began his career as an engraver on copper and wood, then established himself as an art dealer in 1865, making annual purchasing trips to Europe each year between 1871 and 1882. He personally knew many American and European artists, whose works he bought, sold and publicized. Avery's connoisseurship was responsible for the formation of numerous private art collections in New York, and he was one of the founders there of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instrumental in the formation of the Museum's art research library, Avery bequeathed to it numerous books on the history of art; he also established the Avery architectural library at Columbia University.

From the description of Diaries, 1871-1882. (Metropolitan Museum of Art). WorldCat record id: 195893308

American art dealer and publisher.

From the description of Letters, [1903] May 10 and n.d. (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center (HRC); University of Texas at Austin). WorldCat record id: 122494205

Copper and wood engraver, art dealer, connoisseur and advisor to important collectors. Eventually Avery gave up commercial engraving and devoted himself exclusively to collecting and dealing art; particular specialty being old Dutch paintings and romantic French landscape painters. A founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, many of the paintings in that collection were selected by him. He gave notable collections of architectural books to Columbia University, and of engravings and etchings to the New York Public Library.

From the description of Samuel Putnam Avery papers, 1857-1902. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80156568

American wood engraver.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1850]-1905. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86160752