Tastemakers, collectors, and patrons: Collecting American art in the long nineteenth century.

The article "Tastemakers, collectors, and patrons: Collecting American art in the long nineteenth century" explores the relationship between art collecting and museum history, focusing on American collectors and their contributions to museum culture before the establishment of The National Gallery of Art in 1937. The book delves into the stories of various American private collectors, collecting schemes, and portrait forgers, shedding light on the role of money, art, and power in shaping museum culture. While the chapters offer detailed research and insights into collectors' activities, the article points out the absence of narratives on the social, political, and cultural issues that influenced American society during the long nineteenth century, as well as the lack of diversity in the collectors and artists discussed. [Extracted from the article]