Arthur Bowen Davies

Arthur Bowen Davies was an American painter and advocate for progressive art in the early 20th century. He regularly visited Europe where works by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Jean-François Millet inspired his color and brushstroke. Davies was a member of The Eight, a group of artists who rejected conservative exhibition practices of institutions like the National Academy of Design. Davies also consulted art buyers; his advice to MoMA founders built a significant portion of the museum’s initial collection. Davies supported artists in whom he saw promise, including Marsden Hartley. He was famously dismissive of artists who advocated against progress toward Modernism.