John Taylor Johnston

John Taylor Johnston was a prominent American art collector, Philanthropist, and Railroad executive who played a significant role in the development of New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. He was a member of the New York City elite, with connections to notable figures such as William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Johnston's life was marked by his passion for Art collecting, which led him to amass an impressive collection of European art, including works by Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals. His collection was later donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains one of the museum's most prized possessions, alongside works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt.

● Early Life and Education

John Taylor Johnston was born on April 8, 1820, in New York City to a family of Merchants and Bankers. He was educated at Yale University, where he developed an interest in Art history and Literature, inspired by the works of William Shakespeare, John Milton, and Lord Byron. After graduating, Johnston traveled to Europe, visiting cities such as Paris, Rome, and London, where he was exposed to the works of Old Masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. This experience had a profound impact on his life, shaping his taste in Art and influencing his future collecting endeavors, which would include works by Gustave Courbet, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and Eugène Delacroix.

● Career

Johnston began his career in the Railroad industry, working for the New York and Erie Railroad, where he rose through the ranks to become a prominent Railroad executive. He was also involved in the development of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, working alongside notable figures such as Jay Gould and Cornelius Vanderbilt. Johnston's business acumen and leadership skills earned him a reputation as a shrewd and innovative Entrepreneur, with connections to other prominent businessmen like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan. His success in the Railroad industry allowed him to pursue his passion for Art collecting, which became a major focus of his life, with a collection that would eventually include works by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Georges Seurat.

● Art Collection and Philanthropy

Johnston's Art collection was renowned for its quality and scope, featuring works by some of the most celebrated European artists of the time, including Titian, Caravaggio, and Peter Paul Rubens. He was particularly fond of Dutch Masters like Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer, and his collection included several notable works by these artists, as well as French art by Nicolas Poussin and François Boucher. Johnston was also a generous Philanthropist, donating his collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1889, where it remains one of the museum's most prized possessions, alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and René Magritte. His philanthropic efforts also extended to other institutions, including the New York Public Library and the American Museum of Natural History, which were supported by other notable philanthropists like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.

● Personal Life

John Taylor Johnston was married to Frances Colles, a member of a prominent New York City family, and the couple had several children together, including John Herbert Johnston and Frances Johnston. Johnston was known for his Social connections, which included friendships with notable figures like William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. He was also a member of several exclusive Social clubs, including the Union Club of the City of New York and the New York Yacht Club, where he socialized with other prominent businessmen and Art collectors like Henry Clay Frick and J.P. Morgan. Johnston's personal life was marked by his love of Art, Literature, and Music, which he shared with his family and friends, including Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and Henry James.

● Legacy

John Taylor Johnston's legacy is closely tied to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which he helped establish and support through his generous donations, alongside other notable philanthropists like William H. Vanderbilt and Jay Gould. His Art collection remains one of the museum's most prized possessions, featuring works by some of the most celebrated European artists of the time, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Johnston's philanthropic efforts also extended to other institutions, including the New York Public Library and the American Museum of Natural History, which continue to benefit from his generosity, along with other notable institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Today, Johnston is remembered as a pioneering Art collector and Philanthropist who played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of New York City, alongside other notable figures like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan. Category:American art collectors