# John Van Dyke

## Biography

John Charles Van Dyke was an American art historian, critic, and nature writer born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1856. Although he studied law at Columbia, he never practiced, instead pursuing a career centered on art and literature. He served as a librarian at the Gardner A. Sage Library before becoming the first professor of art history at Rutgers College, a position he held for many years. Van Dyke traveled extensively, particularly through Europe for his art criticism and the American Southwest due to a chronic breathing ailment. His travels inspired his most famous work, *The Desert*, published in 1901, which revolutionized perceptions of arid landscapes by celebrating their beauty. He also authored numerous influential books on art, including *Art for Art's Sake* and controversial works on old masters, known for their direct prose. A frequent contributor to *Century Magazine*, Van Dyke was a respected figure in artistic and literary circles, advising Andrew Carnegie on art purchases. He passed away in 1932.

## Books

- [A Text-Book of the History of Painting](https://samolit.com/books/96426)