ABSTRACT
The Times of London lamented in 1906 that, 'thanks to the unlimited commissions of two or three rival American collectors, it seems hopeless for English collectors to attempt to enter the arena in the face of such odds.' There was considerable concern in Britain in the early twentieth century about the export of artworks, and American collectors were often characterized as rich, but undiscerning. American collectors, however, were often hesitant to give the appearance that they participated in this 'magic exodus' casually. Starting in 1890, Morgan Sr. collected a wide range of material until his death in 1913. At the end of his life The New York Times labelled him the 'Leading Collector of the Art World,' declaring that, 'it is safe to say that no American collector, however great his wealth, however impeccable his judgment, will ever be able to rival Mr. Morgan.'
