Mary Jane (Sexton) Morgan (1823–1885), initially a schoolteacher, became a fine art collector after her marriage to Charles Morgan. She was the second wife to the man who earned a fortune in the iron, railroad, and steamship industries. She also grew and collected orchids.[1]
Mary Jane Morgan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mary Jane Sexton 1823 New York City, New York |
| Died | July 3, 1885 (aged 61–62) |
| Other names | Mary J. Morgan Mary Jane Sexton Morgan |
| Known for | Art collector |
| Spouse | Charles Morgan |
Early life
editMary Jane Sexton, the daughter of Sarah Mills (Ross) Sexton and Francis Sexton,[2][3][4] was born in 1823 in New York City. Her father, an East Indian trader,[2] was from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and began his career as an importer in Boston. Her maternal grandfather, William Ross, was the largest carriage maker in the state for a time. Upon his death, he left a large inheritance to his grandchildren.[5]
Mary Jane, one of eight children, was educated at private schools in the city. At Mme. Hallet's school, only French was spoken. She finished her education at Dr. Schroeder's school and began teaching French and mathematics.[2][5]
Marriage
editMary Jane married Charles Morgan on June 25, 1851, becoming Mary Jane Morgan.[6][a] Morgan was his second wife. Like her father, Charles was involved in the trade of goods from India. He was also a magnate in transportation industries; he owned the Louisiana and Texas Railroad and Steamship Company. He also owned the Morgan Iron Works. J. Pierpont Morgan was his cousin.[2]
Charles had two sons — Charles and Henry — and three daughters. After their mother died, the children attended Dr. Schroeder's School on Broadway in Manhattan. Charles met Mary Jane there and they were married. He built a fine house at 7 East 26th Street in New York City.[8]
Charles was previously married to Emily Reeves and had five children. She died in 1850.[7] Mogan had step-grandchildren from her husband's first family.[1] The two sons and one of the daughters died before their father. The other two daughters were Mrs. Quintard and Mrs. Whitney.[8]
Art collector
edit_-_The_Nut_Gatherers_(1882).jpg)
Morgan collected fine art, like sculpture, etchings, and engravings. She collected the paintings by Eugène Delacroix, Jean-François Millet, Charles-François Daubigny, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, and many others. She also collected Japanese and Chinese porcelain, carved ivory and wood, lacquers, ceramics, plates, and glasswork. The American Art Galleries held an auction at Chickering Hall of her $1.2 million (equivalent to $40,693,333 in 2023) collection in the first half of March 1886.[2][9] Her total art collection, many of which were displayed on the walls of rooms, corridors, and stairways at her house at 7 East Twenty-Sixth Street[1] on Madison Park in New York City,[10] was estimated at $32 million (equivalent to $1,085,155,556 in 2023).[1] Works from her collection are among those of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and other museums and private collections.[2]
Death
edit
Charles died on May 8, 1878.[7] Morgan received a substantial share of Charles's estate, which she used to purchase artwork and orchids. Not always clear-headed, she also gave a significant amount away to people who pressed her for money. Family members fought about the estate, too.[8] Her health declined after her husband's death and she visited the Windsor Hotel in Saratoga Springs for her care.[8]
Morgan died on July 3, 1885, at Saratoga Springs, New York.[1][11] She was buried at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.[1] Charles and his first wife, Emily, are also buried at Green-Wood. All three are interred in section 81.[12]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Noted for the love of art: Mrs. Mary J. Morgan". The Boston Globe. 1885-07-07. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b c d e f "Morgan, Mary Jane, -1885". Archives Directory for the History of Collecting, Frick Museum. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Greene, Richard Henry; Stiles, Henry Reed; Dwight, Melatiah Everett; Morrison, George Austin; Mott, Hopper Striker; Totten, John Reynolds; Pitman, H. Minot (Harold Minot); Ditmas, Charles Andrew; De Forest, Louis Effingham (1885). The New York genealogical and biographical record. New York, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. p. 40.
- ^ "Died: Francis Sexton". The New York Times. 1862-09-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b "A Fortune in Art Treasures". The New York Times. 1886-03-12. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Mary J. Sexton married Charles Morgan, June 25, 1851, New York City. Genealogical Research Library, comp. New York City, Marriages, 1600s-1800s. For specific source information see the publication information listed with each entry. Many of the source documents are available in the Genealogical Research Library collection. Many of the records may also be found on microfilm at the Family History Library.
- ^ a b c "Morgan, Charles". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b c d "Mary Jane Morgan's Vast Treasures Melt Away". The Sun. 1885-11-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ Catalogue of the Art Collection Formed by the Late Mrs. Mary J. Morgan to Be Sold by Auction. Legare Street Press. 2022. ISBN 978-1-01-737750-7.
- ^ Norton, Thomas E. (1984). 100 years of collecting in America : the story of Sotheby Parke Bernet. New York : H.N. Abrams. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-8109-1615-9.
- ^ "Mary J. Morgan, died July 3, 1885, Sarasota, New York", New York Department of Health; Albany, NY; NY State Death Index
- ^ "Burial Search - Mary Jane 1885, Charles 1878, Emily 1850". Green-Wood Cemetery. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
Further reading
edit- Nash, Daphne T. (1999). The Art Collection of Mary Jane Morgan: A Document of Taste in Nineteenth Century New York. Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts.