Atherton Curtis

Atherton M. Curtis (April 3, 1863 - October 8, 1943) was an American art collector and a writer from Brooklyn, New York City, who settled permanently in Paris in 1903. He was also an author of introduction, art historian and publisher, who donated numerous archaeological items to the Louvre and other museums. He was also a principal benefactor of the Humane Society, and is recorded as being a strong supporter for the abolition of vivisection. Art collector His father's wealth derived from medicine patents. This provided Curtis with considerable income initially in the form of trust, followed by inheritance allowing him to invest heavily in the arts. He became recognized as a connoisseur of graphic art. His private collection is exhibited in numerous museums; from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution to the National Portrait Gallery. Curtis started his collection at a young age whilst living in New York City. By 1894 he had exhibited his private collection of drawings, watercolors and lithographs by Auguste Raffet, an illustrator in the French Army at the gallery of the Irish art dealer, Frederick Keppel in New York City. During 1896 he acquired prints by Hokusai and Hiroshige. Curtis relocated temporarily to Paris, returning to the United States. However, by 1900 he had decided to settle there permanently and arranged to have his cases of prints transported to France where he set up residence in Paris. He exhibited his collection of Rembrandts at Mount Kisco, New York for 3 months during 1902.