"The first comprehensive study of New York art patron and collector Lillie P. Bliss (1864-1931), examining her influential work as an art collector, advocate, and museum founder (MoMA). Combining archival materials, art market analysis, and the evolution of New York's museum scene, the book reconstructs Bliss's career, highlighting her influence on markets and taste. It also reevaluates MoMA's origins, demonstrating how her visionary bequest significantly contributed to the institution's growth and authority during its formative years"--