Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950) was initially the private librarian of J. Pierpont Morgan and later his son, Jack. She was the first director of the Pierpont Morgan Library, known today as the Morgan Library and Museum. She curated one of the most important rare book and manuscript collections in the United States, eventually transforming it into a major public resource.
J.P. Morgan (1837-1913) financed railroads and helped to organize companies such as U.S. Steel and General Electric. In 1871, he formed a partnership with Philadelphia Banker Anthony Drexel, which in 1895, was recognized as J.P. Morgan & Company, the predecessor to today’s J.P. Morgan Chase. He spent most of his wealth amassing a vast art collection curated by Belle, of course.
Bernard Berenson (1865-1959) was an Italian Renaissance art critic and historian. He wrote Belle’s favorite book as a child “The Venetian Painters of the Renaissance”, which was a gift from her father. Later, Belle and Bernard have a … complicated relationship.
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The Reviewing Fangirl 