Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Winter, Ella, 1898-1980 print view role Collector dates 1898-1980 city Carmel-by-the-Sea, California state CA other cities Nuremberg, Germany; Hamstead, U.K. sex F historical notes Ella Winter Stewart was an Australian-British radical journalist and activist, and champion of migrant farm workers. In 1924 she married the left-wing muckraker Lincoln Steffens and moved to the largest art colony on the Pacific Coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Her first painting, a wedding present from her husband, was a work by Paul Klee. As her collection grew, she acquired works by Chinese-American and Mexican artists as well as a Braque piece titled Fish on a Plate. Over time, Ella Winter's collection expanded to include works by well-established artists like Giorgio de Chirico, Jean Lurçat, Maurice Utrillo, Piet Mondrian, and Raoul Dufy. Her connection to renowned collectors and dealers, such as J. B. Neumann and Karl Nierendorf, introduced her to the world of modern art, particularly the art of Paul Klee. World War II brought an influx of European artists and artworks to the United States, further enriching her collection with pieces by Chagall, Utrillo, Moholy-Nagy, Felix Itten, and Kandinsky. Ella's dedication to art extended to her involvement in exhibitions, including a show to aid Allied relief, which featured art owned by stage and screen stars. Ella Winter's collection was not limited to famous artists; she also appreciated the works of less-known talents, like the Primitives, Bombois, Vivin, and Bauchant. Her encounters with artists like Renee Sintenis and Lily Hildebrand, who had faced challenges during and after the war, resulted in meaningful acquisitions. She also supported Matt Barnes, a San Franciscan known for his evocative oils depicting figures in landscapes. decades of activity 1920-1930 1930-1940 1940-1950 1950-1960 1960-1970 1970-1980 updated 10/31/2024 13:33:23 bibliographic search Search Frick Art Reference Library Catalog Search Photoarchive Search Worldcat Search Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF) Search Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) Archives/Repository Collection Title Collection Details Columbia University Libraries Butler Library, 6th Fl. East, Ella Winter papers, 1913-1978 see details... Yale University Library Manuscripts and Archives Donald Ogden Stewart and Ella Winter papers see details... Columbia University Libraries Butler Library, 6th Fl. East, Lincoln Steffens papers, 1863-1936 see details... see also: Neumann, J. B. (Jsrael Ber) Nierendorf, Karl «  back