Famous Art Collectors and Their Contributions

Lorenzo de' Medici was a Florentine banker and statesman who is credited with being the first person to collect art systematically and on a large scale.

John Ruskin was a prominent art critic and social reformer who was a major supporter of the Pre-Raphaelites, a group of British artists who sought to revive the style of painting that was popular before the Renaissance.

Thomas Jefferson was the third President of the United States and a noted art collector. He donated his collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art to the University of Virginia, where it is now housed in the Fralin Museum of Art.

Sergei Shchukin was a Russian businessman and art collector who amassed a large collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Van Gogh.

Alfred H. Barr, Jr. was an American art historian and museum director who is credited with founding the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1929.

Avery Brundage was an American sports administrator and art collector who amassed a large collection of Chinese art, which he donated to the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.

Peggy Guggenheim was an American art collector and patron of the arts who founded the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice in 1949.

Charles Saatchi is a British advertising magnate and art collector who is known for his collection of contemporary art, which includes works by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Chris Ofili.

Eli Broad was an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Broad Museum in Los Angeles in 2015.

Jean Pigozzi is a French-Italian businessman and art collector who is known for his collection of African art, which he has exhibited in museums around the world.

Jochen Zeitz is a German businessman and art collector who founded the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in 2017.

Aga Khan IV is the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims and a noted art collector. He has amassed a large collection of Islamic art, which he has exhibited in museums around the world.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the founder of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2017.

Eduardo Constantini is an Argentine businessman and art collector who is known for his collection of modern and contemporary Latin American art, which he has exhibited in museums around the world.

Eugenio López Alonso is a Mexican businessman and art collector who founded the Museo Jumex in Mexico City in 2013.