McMullen Museum of Art facts for kids

The McMullen Museum of Art building.

The McMullen Museum of Art is the art museum for Boston College. It is located in Brighton, Massachusetts, which is close to the main college campus in Chestnut Hill. This museum is a place where people can explore many different kinds of art.

History of the Museum

John La Farge, Christ between the Apostles John and Paul (Christ Preaching), a painting at the McMullen Museum.

The McMullen Museum first opened its doors in 1993. In 1996, it was officially named The Charles S. and Isabella V. McMullen Museum of Art. This name honors the parents of John J. McMullen. He was a generous supporter of Boston College and a collector of art.

In September 2016, the museum moved to a new building. This new location has almost twice as much space for showing art. It also has modern lighting and special controls for temperature and humidity. These features help protect the artworks. The new building also has lots of storage for the museum's growing collection.

Even though it's a university museum, the McMullen Museum creates special art shows. These shows are known around the world. They often connect art with history, culture, and even politics. This helps visitors understand the artworks in a deeper way.

Art Collections at McMullen

Winslow Homer, Grace Hoops, part of the Lynch Collection.

The museum has a large permanent collection of art. This collection includes art from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. You can see old tapestries from the Gothic and Baroque periods. There are also Italian paintings from the 1500s and 1600s. American paintings from the 1800s and early 1900s are also a big part of the collection.

Famous artists whose works are in the museum include Amedeo Modigliani and Frank Stella. Other notable artists are Françoise Gilot, Alexander Ney, and John La Farge.

In 2021, a kind investor named Peter Lynch gave 27 paintings and drawings to the museum. This gift included works by famous artists like Winslow Homer and Mary Cassatt. It also featured art by John Singer Sargent and Pablo Picasso. Mr. Lynch also gave money to help take care of these artworks. This collection is now called the Carolyn A. and Peter S. Lynch Collection.

Martin Johnson Heade, Orchid and Hummingbirds near a Mountain Lake, from the Lynch Collection.

Special Exhibitions

The Taking of Christ (1602) by Caravaggio. This painting was a big highlight at the McMullen Museum in 1999.

The McMullen Museum has put on more than sixty special art shows over the past two decades. These shows are put together by experts from Boston College and other places around the world. As a university museum, a main goal of these shows is to discover new things about art history.

Here are some important past exhibitions:

• "Carrie Mae Weems: Strategies of Engagement" (2018): This show featured the work of artist Carrie Mae Weems.
• "Cao Jun: Hymns to Nature" (2018): This was the first time Cao Jun's art was shown in the United States.
• "Beyond Words: Illuminated Manuscripts in Boston Collections" (2016): This exhibition displayed beautiful old books with decorated pages.
• "Portugal, Jesuits, and Japan: Spiritual Beliefs and Earthly Goods" (2013): This show looked at how people from Japan and Portugal interacted. This happened for nearly 100 years, starting in 1543. It focused on traders and Jesuit missionaries.
• "Paul Klee: Philosophical Vision; From Nature to Art" (2012): This exhibition helped the museum reopen for its fall season.
• "Pollock Matters" (2007): This show got a lot of attention. It explored the connection between the famous American painter Jackson Pollock and photographer Herbert Matter. It included over 150 artworks and photos.
• "Saints and Sinners: Caravaggio and the Baroque Image" (1999): This exhibition was very famous. It featured a masterpiece by the Italian artist Caravaggio called The Taking of Christ. This painting was shown in North America for the first time. This show helped put the McMullen Museum "on the map" for art lovers everywhere.