Gertrude Stein (1874-1946) was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France. Much of Gertrude Stein's fame derives from a private modern art gallery she assembled, from 1904 to 1913, with her brother Leo Stein. Of the art collection at 27 rue du Fleurus, Henry McBride, a New York art critic commented, "in proportion to its size and quality ... it is just about the most potent of any that I have ever heard of in history." McBride also made the observation that Gertrude "collected geniuses rather than masterpieces. She recognized them a long way off." The collection soon had a worldwide reputation. She was quoted as saying, “If you can't say anything nice about anyone else, come sit next to me.”