Sam Hunter The Museum of Modern Art New York The History and the Collection Museum of Modern Art, 1984.

Sam Hunter The Museum of Modern Art New York The History and the Collection Museum of Modern Art, 1984.
The astonishing record of the success of this concept is presented in this rich volume. The history of the Museum, from its origins as a daring idea in the minds of three prominent art patrons in the twenties to the opening of its greatly expanded facilities in the eighties, is traced in an illustrated introduction by Sam Hunter, Professor in the Department of Art and Archaeology at Princeton University and formerly a member of the Museum's staff. The engrossing story of the individuals who shaped the Museum, the pioneering exhibitions that influenced our cultural history, and the building of the world's most comprehensive collection of twentieth-century art chronicles not only the growth of the Museum but also the coming of age of modern art itself. Then follows a lavish presentation of one thousand works from the holdings of the Museum's six curatorial departments: Painting and Sculpture, Drawings, Prints and Illustrated Books, Architecture and Design, Photography, and Film. Each department's selection of masterworks is preceded by an essay, written by the department's director, which explains the guiding principles and historical circumstances that shaped the development of the particular collection. Extensive captions provide insight and information about many of the works reproduced.