Samuel Wagstaff Paintings

Samuel Jones Wagstaff Jr. was born on November 4, 1921, in New York City, into a wealthy and socially prominent family. His father, Samuel Jones Wagstaff Sr., was a successful lawyer, and his mother, Olga May Piorkowska, came from an affluent background as well. Wagstaff's early life was marked by privilege, but also by a keen interest in the arts, fostered by his family's involvement in New York's cultural scene. He attended prestigious schools, including the Hotchkiss School and Yale University, where he graduated in 1943. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Wagstaff returned to his studies, eventually earning a master's degree in Renaissance art from Yale in 1955.

Wagstaff's career in the art world began in earnest in the 1950s, initially working in advertising and then transitioning to the curatorial field. He served as a curator at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, and later at the Detroit Institute of Arts. His curatorial work was marked by innovative exhibitions that often challenged traditional boundaries and definitions of art. However, Wagstaff's most enduring legacy stems from his activities as a collector, particularly his early and influential support of photography as a fine art form. In the 1970s, at a time when photography was still largely marginalized in the art world, Wagstaff began amassing an extensive collection of photographs, ranging from 19th-century works to contemporary pieces. His collection included works by pioneering photographers as well as by emerging artists of the time, reflecting his eye for talent and his belief in the artistic value of photography.

Wagstaff's relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, whom he met in 1972, marked a significant chapter in his life. The two formed a close personal and professional bond, with Wagstaff becoming Mapplethorpe's mentor, patron, and lover. This relationship played a crucial role in Mapplethorpe's development as an artist, with Wagstaff's support enabling him to pursue his controversial and groundbreaking work. Together, Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe navigated the New York art scene of the 1970s and 80s, becoming iconic figures within it.

In 1984, Wagstaff sold his photography collection to the J. Paul Getty Museum for a reported sum of $5 million, a landmark event that underscored the growing recognition of photography as a significant art form. This sale also reflected Wagstaff's visionary approach to collecting, as he had amassed a collection that was not only vast in scope but also of exceptional quality.

Samuel Wagstaff died on January 14, 1987, in New York City, from pneumonia related to AIDS. His legacy lives on through his seminal contributions to the art world, particularly in the field of photography. Wagstaff's pioneering efforts helped elevate photography to its current status as a respected and valued art form. His keen eye for talent, his bold approach to collecting, and his passionate advocacy for the arts have left an indelible mark on the art world.