Heckscher Museum of Art facts for kids
Main entrance and front facade
|
|
| Established | 1920 |
|---|---|
| Location | 2 Prime Avenue, Huntington, New York, U.S. |
| Type | Art museum |
The Heckscher Museum of Art is a special place in Huntington, New York, where you can explore amazing artworks. It's named after Anna and August Heckscher, who generously donated many art pieces to start the museum in 1920. The museum building itself is very old and fancy, built in a style called Beaux-Arts. Today, the museum has over 2,300 pieces of art! Most of the art is by American and Long Island artists. You can also see modern art from America and Europe, plus lots of amazing photographs. One of the most famous paintings here is "Eclipse of the Sun" by George Grosz. The museum often changes its exhibits, so there's always something new to see.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
How the Museum Began
The Heckscher Museum of Art was started by Anna and August Heckscher in 1920. They gave 185 artworks to begin the museum's collection. The beautiful building was designed by Julius Franke. He was part of a New York architecture company called Maynicke & Franke.
Growing the Collection
In 1957, the town of Huntington handed over the museum's management. An independent group of people, called a board of trustees, took charge. After this, the museum started to collect even more art. In 2001, the collection grew a lot! Ronald G. Pisano and D. Frederick Baker donated many American paintings and drawings. This was one of the biggest gifts since August Heckscher's first donation.
Exploring the Art Collection
The museum's art collection has grown a lot. It started with 185 works and now has over 2,300 pieces. These artworks cover more than 500 years of history! The oldest major piece is "Virgin, Child, St. John the Baptist and Angels" from 1534 by Lucas Cranach the Elder.
What Kind of Art Can You See?
The museum has some art from European painters from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. But it is especially strong in art by American artists from the 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s. You can even see the entire collection online at heckschercollection.org.
Famous Artists and Styles
The museum has a large collection of modern and abstract art. You can find works by artists like Ilya Bolotowsky, Georgia O'Keeffe, Knox Martin, and Esphyr Slobodkina. Many artists who once lived in Huntington also have their art here. These include Arthur Dove, Helen Torr, and George Grosz.
Amazing Photography
The photography collection is also very interesting. It features work by famous photographers such as Berenice Abbott, Larry Fink, and Eadweard Muybridge. You can also see Man Ray's "Electricité" collection from 1931.
When to Visit
The Heckscher Museum of Art is open all year round. You can visit from Thursday through Sunday.
