The Top 7 Most Famous Female Art Collectors

#7 Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

Collector, art patron, and American sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney is the founder of New York City's 1931 Whitney Museum of American Art. Born in New York City as a prominent social figure in society through the advantageous Vanderbilt name, Gertrude Vanderbilt eventually married into the Whitney family. Whitney passed at age 67 in 1942.

#6 Judy Goffman Cutler

As if being an American author, art dealer, and collector was not enough, Judy Goffman is additionally founder/executive director of the NYC American Illustrators Gallery and co-founder of the National Museum of Illustration. Cutler has also authored and co-authored more than 50 exhibition catalogues and artistic literatures through publishers Harry N.Abrams, Pomegranate Artbooks, Bison Books, and Crescent Books.

#5 Peggy Guggenheim

American art collector, socialite, and bohemian, Marguerite Guggenheim was born in New York City to the wealthy Guggenheim family. An interesting fact about Marguerites father, Benjamin Guggenheim, is that he tragically passed along with several thousand others in the 1912 Titanic sinking. Marguerite otherwise known as 'Peggy' impressively created an art collection that would travel through America and Europe during 1938 and 1946. Sadly, Marguerite died at 81 years old in 1979.

#4 Cone Sisters

Etta and Claribel Cone were originally born in Jonesborough, Tennessee but eventually made their way to Baltimore, Maryland where together they cultivated one of the United States finest collections of modern French art. The two socialites thrived during the Gilded Age.

#3 Isabella Stewart Gardner

New York City native, Isabella Stewart Gardner is not only an art collector but also an avid philanthropist of the female patrons in art. Additionally, Gardner is the founder of Boston's Isabella Stewart Museum and has made several friends in the arts such as Anders Zorn, John Singer Sargent, Okakura, and James McNeill Whistler. Tragically, Gardner passed in 1924 at age 84.

#2 Flora Payne Whitney

New York City American Socialite, Flora Payne Whitney, otherwise known as Flora Whitney Miller is an art collector as much as she is a patron of the arts. Payne Whitney passed in 1986 at the ripe age of 89.

#1 Sunday Reed

Known best for collecting and avidly supporting Australian art, Sunday Reed was born in Melbourne, Australia and eventually wed to John Reed. Her husband John Reed was widely recognized for backing Sunday in her love for art. Sunday was taken too soon at the age of 78 in 1981.