Walter Conrad Arensberg

Walter Conrad Arensberg (1878-1954) was a notable American intellectual, poet, critic, and art collector who played a pivotal role in the development of early 20th-century modern art and literature in America. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Arensberg attended Harvard University, where he cultivated his interests in poetry and avant-garde art, eventually becoming an influential figure in both fields. Alongside his wife, Louise Stevens Arensberg, he assembled an impressive collection of contemporary art, which included works by avant-garde artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, and Henri Matisse.

Arensberg was deeply involved in the Dada and Surrealist movements, both as a patron and active participant. His salon in New York City became a hub for the artistic and intellectual avant-garde, attracting luminaries such as Duchamp, Man Ray, and Charles Demuth. Apart from his contributions to the art world, Arensberg was also an amateur cryptologist and theorist, fascinated by the works of Sir Francis Bacon and the idea that Bacon might have been the true author behind Shakespeare's plays.

In 1950, the Arensbergs moved to California, where they continued to enhance their collection. Upon his death in 1954, Arensberg bequeathed his extensive collection to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, ensuring his legacy as a crucial figure in the promotion and support of modernist art in America.