Avery, Samuel Putnam, 1822-1904

American artist, connoisseur, and art dealer, born Mar. 17, 1822 in New York City; died there on Aug. 11, 1904. Avery began his career as an engraver on copper and wood, then established himself as an art dealer in 1865, making annual purchasing trips to Europe each year between 1871 and 1882. He personally knew many American and European artists, whose works he bought, sold and publicized. Avery's connoisseurship was responsible for the formation of numerous private art collections in New York, and he was one of the founders there of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instrumental in the formation of the Museum's art research library, Avery bequeathed to it numerous books on the history of art; he also established the Avery architectural library at Columbia University.

From the description of Diaries, 1871-1882. (Metropolitan Museum of Art). WorldCat record id: 195893308

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