'The visionaries': Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Patrons of American sculpture

This dissertation seeks to demonstrate that philanthropist Archer Milton Huntington (1870--1955) and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876--1973) were major public benefactors whose generous gifts advanced numerous cultural institutions and art organizations during the first half of the twentieth century. The legacy of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington is a little known chapter in American art and cultural history, which begs to be rediscovered and revealed. The recognition the Huntingtons so rightly deserve inspires this study. I propose to demonstrate that the Huntingtons' deliberate philanthropy and visionary efforts had an enduring impact on American art. Their dedicated patronage provided for, and maintained artistic conventions and traditional aesthetics in 20th century American sculpture and their generous philanthropy promoted and made accessible to the public, American academic sculpture.