Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948

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American art critic.

From the description of Autograph letters signed (2), dated : [New York], 10 Apirl 1940 and 22 March 1942, to Harry [Harkness Flagler], 1940 Apr. 10 and 22 March 1942. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270564650

Royal Cortissoz (1869-1968), respected American art critic, was born in Brooklyn, NY. He trained as an architect, spending six years working at the firm of McKim, Mead, and White before embarking on his journalism career. Cortissoz served as the art critic for the New York Tribune (later, New York Herald-Tribune) from 1891-1944 and was the author of art books, exhibition catalogs, and countless articles and reviews.

From the description of Architecture Images Collection, circa 1900-1920. (Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection). WorldCat record id: 605941518

Royal Cortissoz (1869-1948) was the art critic for the New York Herald Tribune for over fifty years.

From the description of Royal Cortissoz papers, 1864-1955 (bulk 1920-1955) (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80153323

From the description of Royal Cortissoz papers, 1864-1955 (bulk 1920-1955). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702164142

Royal Cortissoz was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Francisco Emmanuel Cortissoz and Julia da Costo Cortissoz. In 1883 he went to work for the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White. In 1889 he was appointed art critic for The Commercial Advertiser, and on October 1, 1891 he was named art critic for the New York Tribune (later the New York Herald-Tribune ), a position he held for more than fifty years. Cortissoz was a champion of traditional and representational art, and considered modernist art "sterile." He was the author of many critical articles, three biographies, and six volumes of essays, and became a nationally-known and highly popular lecturer on the arts, particularly painting. Cortissoz also wrote inscriptions for many memorials, the most famous of which appears behind the statue of Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial.

In 1897 he married Ellen Mackay Hutchinson, co-editor with Edmund Clarence Stedman of The Library of American Literature and an author herself. His fiftieth anniversary with the Herald-Tribune was celebrated by many colleagues and admirers. Royal Cortissoz died in New York City on October 17, 1948. At the time of his death, Henry McBride noted his dislike of modern art, but added: "These innovators could not have asked for a fairer opponent. They will miss him. He created the argument and when there is no argument a movement lies flat."

From the guide to the Royal Cortissoz papers, 1864-1955, 1920-1955, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sarah Orne Jewett correspondence, 1861-1930. Houghton Library
creatorOf Abbott Handerson Thayer and Thayer Family papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
referencedIn Armer, Laura Adams, 1874-1963. Photograph album of portraits of men, women, and children [graphic] / Laura Adams Armer. California historical society
creatorOf Frank Weitenkampf letters Archives of American Art
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948,. Autograph and typed letters signed from Royal Cortissoz, New York, to William Winter [manuscript], 1899-1910. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Fogg Art Museum. Archives of the Fogg Art Museum, 1895-1985 (inclusive). Harvard University Art Museum
creatorOf American Academy of Arts and Letters records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Charles Hanson Towne papers, 1891-1948, 1902-1945 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937. Papers, 1836-1975. Indiana University
creatorOf Platt, Charles A. (Charles Adams), 1861-1933. Charles A. Platt architectural records and papers, 1879-1981 (bulk 1882-1933). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Martin Birnbaum papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Autograph letters (4 including 1 card) signed and typed letters (9) signed : to Belle da Costa Greene or to J.P. Morgan, 1928 Mar. and 1943 Feb. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Walter Gay papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Seymour, George Dudley, 1859-1945. Note, 1932 December 8, to Arthur Adams. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf William Anderson Coffin papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Selections from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Archives of American Art collection Archives of American Art
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
referencedIn Eliot Candee Clark Papers, 1910-1969 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Abbott Handerson Thayer and Thayer Family papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966. Papers, 1681-1966 (bulk 1900-1960) Houghton Library
referencedIn Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933. Additional papers, 1841-1940 Houghton Library
referencedIn Richard Aldrich papers, 1842-1956 (inclusive), 1883-1938 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. [Letter to Edward Larocque Tinker, New York], 1940. University Club Library
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Letter to J. Milton Mabbott. [New York, NY?]. 1915 Sep. 8. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Players Club letters Archives of American Art
creatorOf Palmer, William Kimberly, 1856-. William Kimberly Palmer scrapbook : Chicopee, Mass. : 1921-1933. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Century Company. Century Company records, 1870-1924. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926. Pennell-Whistler collection, 1597-1937. Library of Congress
referencedIn David E. Finley papers, 1921-1977 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf CORTISSOZ, ROYAL. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Palmer, John Williamson, 1825-1906. Papers of John Williamson Palmer, 1856-1903. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Frederic Remington papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Weir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. John Ferguson Weir papers, 1838-1957 (inclusive), 1861-1928 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Stedman, Edmund Clarence, 1833-1908. Papers, 1840-1960. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Papers of Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, ca. 1860-1969 (inclusive) Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Joseph Pennell papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Correspondence to Paul Philippe Cret, 1929-1943. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Nevins, Allan, 1890-1971. Papers, 1912-1992. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Robinson, Corinne Roosevelt, 1861-1933. Papers, 1847-1933 Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Charles A. Platt architectural records and papers, 1879-1981, (bulk 1882-1933) Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Autograph letter signed : to R.C. Leffingwell, 1943 Apr. 3. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn R. Sturgis Ingersoll papers relating to Henry McCarter Archives of American Art
referencedIn Family papers, 1853-1954. Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Autograph letters signed (2), dated : [New York], 10 Apirl 1940 and 22 March 1942, to Harry [Harkness Flagler], 1940 Apr. 10 and 22 March 1942. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Stanford White Papers, 1873-1928 New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Charles Dana Gibson papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Royal Cortissoz papers, 1864-1955, 1920-1955 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Byers, A. M. (Alexander McBurney), 1827-1900. Byers Family Art Collection Inventories 1900-1977 1900-1935. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Winthrop, Grenville Lindall, 1864-1943. Papers of Grenville L. Winthrop, 1885-1943 (inclusive). Harvard University Art Museum
creatorOf Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor, 1869-1924. Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue architectural drawings and papers, 1882-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Architecture Images Collection, circa 1900-1920. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Reid Family Fapers, 1795-1970, (bulk 1869-1970) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn William James Jr. papers, 1857-1960 (inclusive), 1911-1959 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks, 1941-1953. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Towne, Charles Hanson, 1877-1949. Charles Hanson Towne papers, 1891-1948, bulk (1902-1945). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Charles Scribner's Sons Art Reference Department records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. Autograph letter signed : to Belle da Costa Greene, 1930 Oct. 18. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Guy Pène Du Bois papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Horace Elisha Scudder correspondence Houghton Library
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue architectural drawings and papers, 1882-1980 Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
creatorOf Century Magazine letters Archives of American Art
referencedIn Griffin, Walter, 1861-1935. Papers, [ca. 1860-1954]. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Allan Nevins Papers, 1912-1992 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers of Paul J. Sachs, 1903-2005 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn William Roscoe Thayer papers, 1762-1927 (inclusive), 1872-1921 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn William Anderson Coffin papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Edmund Clarence Stedman Papers, 1840-1960. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Mark Anthony De Wolfe Howe additional papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Alfred Williams Anthony papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Aldrich, Richard, 1863-1937 person
associatedWith American Academy of Arts and Letters. corporateBody
associatedWith Anthony, Alfred Williams, 1860-1939. person
associatedWith Armer, Laura Adams, 1874-1963. person
associatedWith Bacon, Henry, 1866-1924. person
associatedWith Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959. person
associatedWith Birnbaum, Martin, 1878-1970. person
associatedWith Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. person
correspondedWith Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962 person
associatedWith Byers, A. M. (Alexander McBurney), 1827-1900. person
associatedWith Century Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Century illustrated monthly magazine. corporateBody
correspondedWith Chapman, John Jay, 1862-1933 person
associatedWith Clark, Eliot Candee, 1883- person
associatedWith Coffin, William A. (William Anderson), 1855-1925. person
correspondedWith Cole, Corinne Robinson Alsop, 1886-1971 person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Dewing, Thomas Wilmer, 1851-1938. person
associatedWith Duveen, Joseph Duveen, Baron, 1869-1939. person
associatedWith Finley, David E. (David Edward) person
associatedWith Flagler, Harry Harkness, person
associatedWith Fogg Art Museum. corporateBody
correspondedWith Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966 person
associatedWith Gay, Walter, 1856-1937. person
associatedWith Gibson, Charles Dana, 1867-1944. person
associatedWith Goodhue, Bertram Grosvenor, 1869-1924. person
associatedWith Greene, Belle da Costa, person
correspondedWith Griffin, Walter, 1861-1935. person
associatedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
correspondedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Howe, M. A. De Wolfe (Mark Antony De Wolfe), 1864-1960 person
associatedWith Hurst, Fannie, 1889-1968 person
associatedWith Ingersoll, R. Sturgis (Robert Sturgis), b. 1891. person
correspondedWith James, William, 1882-1961 person
correspondedWith Jewett, Sarah Orne, 1849-1909 person
associatedWith La Farge, John, 1835-1910. person
associatedWith Leffingwell, R. C., person
associatedWith Mabbott, John Milton, person
associatedWith Mackay, Clarence Hungerford, 1874-1938. person
associatedWith Mary Flagler Cary Music Collection (Pierpont Morgan Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Morgan, J. P. (John Pierpont), 1867-1943, person
associatedWith Nevins, Allan, 1890-1971. person
associatedWith Palmer, John Williamson, 1825-1906. person
associatedWith Palmer, William Kimberly, 1856- person
associatedWith Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915 : San Francisco, Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith Pène du Bois, Guy, 1884-1958. person
correspondedWith Pennell, Joseph, 1857-1926. person
associatedWith Philadelphia Museum of Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Platt, Charles A. (Charles Adams), 1861-1933. person
associatedWith Players (Club) corporateBody
correspondedWith Reid family family
associatedWith Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912. person
associatedWith Remington, Frederic, 1861-1909. person
correspondedWith Robinson, Corinne Roosevelt, 1861-1933 person
associatedWith Sachs, Paul J., 1878-1965 person
associatedWith Scudder, Horace Elisha, 1838-1902 person
associatedWith Seymour, George Dudley, 1859-1945. person
associatedWith Stedman, Edmund Clarence, 1833-1908. person
associatedWith Thayer, Abbott Handerson, 1849-1921. person
correspondedWith Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923 person
associatedWith Tinker, Edward Larocque, 1881-1968. person
associatedWith Towne, Charles Hanson, 1877-1949. person
associatedWith Updike, Daniel Berkeley, 1860-1941. person
associatedWith Weir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. person
associatedWith Weitenkampf, Frank, 1866-1962. person
associatedWith Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937. person
associatedWith Winter, William, 1836-1917. person
associatedWith Winthrop, Grenville Lindall, 1864-1943. person
associatedWith Wormeley, Katharine Prescott. person
associatedWith Young, Robert, 1927-2008, person
associatedWith Zerbe, William H. person
associatedWith Zigrosser, Carl, 1891- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
Subject
Art, American
Architecture
Art criticism
Art criticism
Occupation
Art critics
Activity

Person

Birth 1869-02-10

Death 1948-10-17

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 21910736