Rockefellers: The keepers of America’s art conscience
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Rockefellers: The keepers of America’s art conscience

Archive Manager by Archive Manager
Apr 3, 2011, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

ROCKEFELLERS is one of the wealthiest and most influential families in America. Their contribution to the fields of art, culture and education is nearly unmatched by anyone, anywhere. Over thirty institutions in America bear the “imprint of this legendary family.”

Rockefellers are one of the most written about also. More than 200 books have been written on them. A latest book America’s Medicis: The Rockefellers and Their Astonishing Cultural Legacy by Suzanne Loebl focuses on the family’s contribution to art. Medici was the ruler of Florence in the fifteenth century, during Renaissance and is known for patronizing artists.

The connection between Rockefeller and art began with Abby and John D Rockefeller Jr. John was partial to sculptures and was keen on artistic perfection, and aesthetic appeal. Abby’s interests were more broad-based and wide ranging. Together they collected art objects and filled their home, shifted houses to accommodate their precious collections and passed on their passion to their six children. John’s father had made money in oil and Abby’s father was a self-made businessman.

Suzanne Loebl, prolific art writer and author of fourteen books, meticulously goes through the major purchases made by the couple. The Rockefellers kept systematic records not only of their buys but the letters as well. The mother, father and the children – they all wrote to each other, even while living in the same house. John was not keen on modern art at all. But Abby was, in fact she worked to buy and promote the new artists. Since John did not like them, she used the money from her inheritance from her father. John quietly added to her money, $25,000 a month to indulge herself.

One of the interesting anecdotes mentioned in the book is about how John acquired two tall Black Hawthorn vases, created in China during 16th-17th century. He fell in love with them and did not have the $1.5 million to buy them. He applied to the father for a loan, who promptly refused, considering it a wasteful expenditure. The son, undaunted wrote, “I have never squandered money on horses, yachts, automobiles and other foolish extravagances. A fondness for these porcelains is my only hobby – the only thing on which I have cared to spend money- The money put into these porcelains is not lost or squandered- Is it unwise for me to gratify a desire for beautiful things, which will be a constant joy to my friends and to my children as they grow to appreciate them, as well as to myself, when it is done in so quiet and unostentatious manner?” Moved by the letter, the father not only advanced the money, but made it a gift.

The Rockefellers discovered a taste for Asian art objects and enriched their collection with material mainly from China and Japan.

What sets this family apart from several other passionate art collectors is that it was not a mere pass time of the rich for them. They loved art and architecture, and contributed to their flourishing by donating space, buildings, their collections and setting up centres for patronage. Thus, the Museum of Modern Art, the Rockefeller Centre, Lincoln Centre, the Cloisters, and nearly a dozen museums sponsored by them stand testimony to their commitment.

Art today has become a commercial proposition, with art collectors only in the business of buying and selling. Given that scenario, the work done by the Rockefellers stands even taller, as they as a family added a national purpose to their passion. Suzanne Loebl has used the well-documented family sources and collated their service to art.

(HarperCollins, 10, East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022)

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

TogadiaSpeak A bill to derail Indian Society ?

Next News

Media too has a social responsibility Sting operation to expose corruption or to hide it?

Related News

Organiser-Panchjanya Awards: Palki Sharma wins KR Malkani Award, Rohit Sardana posthumously gets AB Vajpayee Puraskar

Organiser-Panchjanya Awards: Palki Sharma wins KR Malkani Award, Rohit Sardana posthumously gets AB Vajpayee Puraskar

Texas school shooting: Death toll rises to 21, UN Secretary-General extends condolences to victims’ families

Texas school shooting: Death toll rises to 21, UN Secretary-General extends condolences to victims’ families

Biden blames Texas school shooting on gun lobby, Vice President Harris calls the attack, ‘heartbreaking tragedy’

Biden blames Texas school shooting on gun lobby, Vice President Harris calls the attack, ‘heartbreaking tragedy’

US: Fourteen children, one teacher killed in Texas school shooting

US: Fourteen children, one teacher killed in Texas school shooting

Rajasthan: IPS officer insults Hindu deities, hurts religious sentiments after Shivling was found inside Gyanvapi

Rajasthan: IPS officer insults Hindu deities, hurts religious sentiments after Shivling was found inside Gyanvapi

BJP minority wing leader hacked to death in Chennai; Opposition said Chennai had become the “murder city”

BJP minority wing leader hacked to death in Chennai; Opposition said Chennai had become the “murder city”

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Organiser-Panchjanya Awards: Palki Sharma wins KR Malkani Award, Rohit Sardana posthumously gets AB Vajpayee Puraskar

Organiser-Panchjanya Awards: Palki Sharma wins KR Malkani Award, Rohit Sardana posthumously gets AB Vajpayee Puraskar

Texas school shooting: Death toll rises to 21, UN Secretary-General extends condolences to victims’ families

Texas school shooting: Death toll rises to 21, UN Secretary-General extends condolences to victims’ families

Biden blames Texas school shooting on gun lobby, Vice President Harris calls the attack, ‘heartbreaking tragedy’

Biden blames Texas school shooting on gun lobby, Vice President Harris calls the attack, ‘heartbreaking tragedy’

US: Fourteen children, one teacher killed in Texas school shooting

US: Fourteen children, one teacher killed in Texas school shooting

Rajasthan: IPS officer insults Hindu deities, hurts religious sentiments after Shivling was found inside Gyanvapi

Rajasthan: IPS officer insults Hindu deities, hurts religious sentiments after Shivling was found inside Gyanvapi

BJP minority wing leader hacked to death in Chennai; Opposition said Chennai had become the “murder city”

BJP minority wing leader hacked to death in Chennai; Opposition said Chennai had become the “murder city”

DMK’s anti-Hindu measures face strong opposition in Tamil Nadu

DMK’s anti-Hindu measures face strong opposition in Tamil Nadu

Tedros Adhanom re-elected as WHO chief for second term

Tedros Adhanom re-elected as WHO chief for second term

Jammu Kashmir Police busts JeM terror module in Awantipora, 8 arrested

Jammu Kashmir Police busts JeM terror module in Awantipora, 8 arrested

PM Modi departs for home after productive Quad summit in Japan

PM Modi departs for home after productive Quad summit in Japan

  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies