Leo Stein

This article is about the American art critic. For the Austrian writer, see Leo Stein (writer).

Leo Stein (May 11, 1872 – July 29, 1947) was an American art collector and critic. He was born in Allegheny City (now in Pittsburgh), the older brother of Gertrude Stein. He became an influential promoter of 20th-century paintings.

Leo Stein
Leo Stein (1872-1947), elder brother of Gertrude Stein. Photo by Carl Van Vechten, November 9, 1937
Born	(1872-05-11)May 11, 1872 Allegheny, Pennsylvania, US
Died	July 29, 1947(1947-07-29) (aged 75) Florence, Italy
Occupations	Art collector, Art critic
Spouse	Nina Auzias ​ (m. 1921)​
Relatives	Gertrude Stein (sister) - Micheal Stein (brother) Sarah Stein (sister-in-law) - Allan Stein - 1895-1951 (nephew)

Education and career

Beginning in 1892, he studied at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for two years. The following year, he traveled the world with his cousin, Fred. In 1897, he transferred to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1898.

Stein spent a number of years living in Paris with his sister. In 1914, the two separated due to Leo's resentment of Gertrude's infatuation with Alice B. Toklas, whom he described as "a kind of abnormal vampire."^[1] Stein returned to America to work as a journalist but eventually settled near Florence, Italy, with his long-time love interest, Nina Auzias. They eventually married in 1921.^[2]

Stein died of cancer in 1947 in Florence.

Publications

• Stein, Leo. Appreciation: Painting, Poetry, and Prose. 1947. Reprint. University of Nebraska Press, 1996.
• Stein, Leo. The A-B-C of Aesthetics. New York: Boni & Liveright, 1927.
• Stein, Leo. "Pablo Picasso." The New Republic (April 23, 1924): p. 229-230.