[1] Born in 1937 in Manhattan, she earned a bachelor's degree from Sarah Lawrence College.
[2] Rosenthal pursued graduate studies in art history at Harvard University, obtaining a master's degree in 1970 and a Ph.D. in 1976.
[2][3] Rosenthal began her career as a reporter for newspapers such as The New York Post, The Evening Standard, and The International Herald Tribune.
[2] She also facilitated the acquisition of works by artists like Barnett Newman, Ad Reinhardt, and Scott Burton.
[2][5] At the Met, she was involved in acquiring works such as Jasper Johns's White Flag and Robert Rauschenberg's Winter Pool.