The Starry Night, painted in 1889 by Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, is one of the most iconic works of modern art. It has been the subject of countless books and articles, and is a staple of many art history courses.
The painting hangs in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, where millions of visitors from around the world come to admire it each year. But who gave the Starry Night to MoMA?
The answer lies with a woman named Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, who was married to John D. Rockefeller Jr., one of America’s wealthiest men at that time. In 1929, Abby became one of the founding members of MoMA, and it was she who donated several pieces from her personal collection for the museum’s inaugural exhibition. Among them was van Gogh’s masterpiece The Starry Night.
Abby was a passionate advocate for modern art and was known for her keen eye when it came to collecting pieces. She collected art from all over Europe and even bought works directly from some of today’s most celebrated artists such as Picasso and Matisse. Over time, her collection grew so large that she had to start donating pieces to museums around the world.
In 1941, Abby donated over 400 pieces from her private collection to MoMA, including The Starry Night. This gift helped establish MoMA as one of the foremost modern art museums in the world and cemented Abby’s legacy as an important collector and patron.
Since then, The Starry Night has become a symbol for MoMA and continues to captivate audiences with its dreamy depiction of a star-filled night sky over a small village in France. While there have been many interpretations over the years about what it means or represents, its power lies in its ability to elicit emotion from viewers regardless of their cultural background or personal beliefs.
Who Gave The Starry Night To The Museum Of Modern Art?
The answer is Abby Aldrich Rockefeller – wife of John D Rockefeller Jr – who donated several pieces from her personal collection for the museum’s inaugural exhibition in 1941 including van Gogh’s masterpiece The Starry Night. Her generous gift helped establish MoMA as one of the foremost modern art museums in the world and cemented her legacy as an important collector and patron.