Kathryn Bache Miller (April 19, 1896 – October 15, 1979) was an American art collector and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

Early life

Bache was born in 1896, she was the daughter of investment banker

Jules S. Bache Jules Semon Bache (November 9, 1861 – March 24, 1944) was an American banker, art collector and philanthropist. Early life Julius Bache was born to a Jewish family in New York City. His father, Semon Bache é Bach(1826–1891), emigrated ...

and Florence Rosalie Scheftel (1869–1931). Known to her friends as Kitty. she married 1927 the theatrical producer Gilbert Miller in Paris, France. On February 18, 1916, along with many other

debutante A debutante, also spelled débutante, ( ; from french: débutante , "female beginner") or deb is a young woman of aristocratic or upper-class family background who has reached maturity and, as a new adult, is presented to society at a formal " ...

s, she performed in the

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

opera, ''Melinda and Her Sisters'', by Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont and Miss Elsa Maxwell. It was staged in the grand ballroom of the

Waldorf–Astoria The Waldorf Astoria New York is a luxury hotel and condominium residence in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The structure, at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, is a 47-story Art Deco landmark designed by architects Schu ...

Goya's ''Red Boy''

In 1926, while in Paris at the art gallery of Joseph Duveen, she fell in love with the painting by Francisco Goya, ''

Manuel Osorio Manrique de Zuñiga Manuel may refer to: People * Manuel (name) * Manuel (Fawlty Towers), a fictional character from the sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' * Charlie Manuel, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies * Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of the Byzantine Empire * Manu ...

'', commonly known as the "Red Boy". Her father then purchased it for $275,000. The painting was hung prominently in her living room. Her interior decorator, Billy Baldwin, described her attachment to it as if it were a living being. Her father bequeathed the painting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but it was allowed to be shown periodically in Miller's apartment until she died in 1979.

Marriage

On July 16, 1927, she married Gilbert Miller, a theatrical producer, in Paris, France. Her father had been initially against the marriage, but then changed his mind. He helped the guests celebrate with a wedding breakfast at his Paris apartment, which held his vast collection of antiques and art works. Her apartment at

550 Park Avenue 550 Park Avenue is a luxury apartment building on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, United States. Design 550 Park Avenue was designed by J.E.R. Carpenter. The 17-floor building was completed on December 11, 1917 and ...

in New York City was decorated by Billy Baldwin.

Later life

A well-dressed society figure, she became a permanent member of the Fashion Hall of Fame, class of 1965, along with

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis ( ; July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was an American socialite, writer, photographer, and book editor who served as first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. A pop ...

. She was a close friend of the Duchess of Windsor and Truman Capote.

Philanthropy

She was known for having lavish New Year's Eve parties that supported charities. In particular, she supported Roosevelt Hospital with millions of dollars.

Legacy

On April 17, 1980 her estate was sold at auction by

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is ...

. In 1983 the Italian Baroque painting of ''St John the Baptist Preaching'' by Mattia Preti was purchased partially with funds from the ''Kathryn Bache Miller Fund'' for the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

museum in California. In 1988, the Miller Theatre at Columbia University was named in her honor.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Kathryn Bache 1896 births 1979 deaths People from the Upper East Side Jewish art collectors Philanthropists from New York (state) American people of German-Jewish descent American socialites Women art collectors American art collectors