New Britain Museum of American Art facts for kids
Chase Family Building
New Britain Museum of American Art |
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| Established | 1903 |
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| Location | 56 Lexington Street New Britain, Connecticut, Connecticut, United States |
| Type | Art museum |
The New Britain Museum of American Art is a fantastic art museum located in New Britain, Connecticut. It was founded in 1903. This makes it the very first museum in the United States focused entirely on American art.
This museum is right next to Walnut Hill Park. This park was designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Contents
A Look Back: Museum History
The museum's story began with the "New Britain Institute." This group started in 1853. Their goal was to help people in the city learn about education and art. They especially wanted to help new immigrants.
In 1903, the museum received a gift of $20,000 from John Butler Talcott. This money was for buying "original modern oil paintings." A smart idea came from Bryson Burroughs. He was an art expert from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He suggested the museum focus on American art. This would be a good way to build a great collection without spending too much. The museum followed his advice. They often spent less than $1,000 for each artwork. Now, their collection is worth millions!
A wealthy woman named Grace Judd Landers wanted to give a lot of money to the museum. But she lost her money in the stock market crash of 1929. Instead, she gave her house to the museum in 1934. This house became part of the museum.
Early Leaders and Famous Art
Sanford B. D. Low was the museum's first director. He was married to the daughter of William H. Hart, who led Stanley Works. Low was friends with the famous painter Thomas Hart Benton. He helped the museum get many of Benton's artworks.
Low and Benton were part of a fun group of friends. This group included actor James Cagney. They spent summers at William Hart's summer home. Low and Benton often painted together there.
In the late 1940s, Low heard a rumor. The Whitney Museum in New York City might sell Benton's "The Arts of Life in America" series. These paintings were not popular at the time. Low arranged for the New Britain museum to buy them for only $500! Alix Stanley, whose family started Stanley Works, paid for them. The cost to move the huge paintings was more than the purchase price!
In 1964, the museum started the Sanford B. D. Low Memorial Illustration Collection. This was the first collection of American illustrations in the U.S. Today, it has over 1,700 artworks from the 1800s to today.
Growing Bigger and Better
Douglas Hyland became the museum's director in 1999. He helped raise money from new supporters. In 2003, the museum built the Chase Family Building. This new part added 43,000 square feet, making the museum twice as big!
During Hyland's time, the museum building was updated. The art collection also doubled to 10,000 pieces. The number of full-time staff and volunteer guides also grew a lot. Membership nearly tripled, too!
Amazing Art Collection
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The museum's permanent collection has many different types of American art. You can see old portraits from colonial times. There are also beautiful landscapes from the Hudson River School. You'll find art by American Impressionists and artists from the Ash Can School.
Some famous artists whose work you can see include John Singleton Copley, Frederic Church, Thomas Cole, Rockwell Kent, Georgia O'Keeffe, N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Sol LeWitt.
Different Styles of Art
The museum has portraits from the early days of America. These include works by John Smibert, John Trumbull, Mather Brown, and Gilbert Stuart.
You can also see many landscapes from the Hudson River School. These paintings show amazing American scenery. Artists like Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, and Frederic Church are featured.
The museum has many still life paintings from the 1800s. These show everyday objects arranged beautifully. Artists like William Harnett and John La Farge created these. You can also find paintings and sculptures that show scenes from daily life.
Impressionism and Modern Art
The museum has works by American Impressionists. These artists used light and color in new ways. You can see paintings by Mary Cassatt, Theodore Robinson, and Childe Hassam. Later Impressionist works are also on display.
A special part of the collection is the mural series "The Arts of Life in America" by Thomas Hart Benton. These are large paintings that tell a story.
The museum also has modern and contemporary art. This includes works by artists like Chuck Close and Eva Hesse. A very important painting is The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy by Graydon Parrish. This large, realistic painting is a tribute to the people lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
The museum is also a leader in collecting "Post-contemporary Art." This new style includes works by artists like Tony Curanaj and Daniel Maidman.
