Washington County Museum of Fine Arts facts for kids
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown City Park.
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| Established | 1929 |
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| Location | 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown (City Park), MD 21740 United States |
| Type | Art center, Art museum |
| Visitors | 50,000 |
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA) is an exciting art museum. It is located in Hagerstown, Maryland, in the United States. You can find it in Hagerstown City Park, where it is a main attraction.
A kind couple, Mr. and Mrs. William Singer, Jr., gave the museum to the community in 1929. The building was finished in 1931. Later, two more sections were added in 1949. The museum offers many cool things to see and do. It has a famous collection of art. It also hosts changing art shows, music concerts, and talks. You can even take art classes there. They have special events for both kids and adults all year long. The art collections include American art from the 1800s and early 1900s. There are also older European paintings and decorative art.
The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts does not charge an entrance fee. It relies on gifts from people and groups. The museum is approved by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). This means it meets high standards for museums.
The Museum's Story: How It Began
The first building for the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts was designed by a company called Hyde & Shepherd. It was built in a style called neo-Georgian. This means it looked like old Colonial buildings. The museum is made of red brick with local limestone details.
The front of the building has the museum's name carved in big letters. There is also a design of an artist's palette on the roof. Anna Singer, one of the founders, always called this first part the "first unit." She planned to make it bigger. In 1946, she offered to pay for two new sections. These were finished in 1949.
Later, in 1994, another part was added. This created an open courtyard around the main entrance. The first stone was placed on July 15, 1930. The museum opened its doors to everyone on September 16, 1931. Since then, the museum's art collection has grown a lot. It now has over 6,000 pieces of art!
Meet the Founders: William and Anna Singer
William Henry Singer, Jr., was an artist. His wife was Anna Brugh Singer. They lived mostly in Europe. But they gave a wonderful gift to the people of Washington County. In 1931, the Singers gave the Museum of Fine Arts to the community. They also gave a large collection of American and European art.
Anna loved her hometown of Hagerstown very much. This is why they made such a generous gift. The couple kept giving art to the museum throughout their lives. In 1949, Anna made the museum much bigger. She added two new sections to honor her late husband.
The Singers traveled all over the United States and Europe. They became friends with many artists. This helped them learn a lot about the art world. William was an American painter. His art style was called post-impressionist. He was inspired by European art ideas from the late 1800s. William's father was a very rich steel maker from Pittsburgh.
William's later paintings mostly showed the quiet mountains and fjords of Norway. He loved Norway so much that it felt like his second home. His best work showed the amazing scenery of Norway. Anna was more outgoing than William. She spent a lot of time hosting guests at their homes in the Netherlands and Norway. She also helped build their art collection.
Besides starting the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, the Singers gave many gifts. They supported churches, towns, and hospitals in Norway, the Netherlands, and the United States. After William passed away in 1943, Anna focused on finding good homes for their art. She also supported art places. In 1956, she started the Singer Laren Museum and theater in Laren, the Netherlands. Anna continued to be a big supporter of art and performances until she passed away in 1962.
Amazing Art Collections to Explore
The museum's collection is especially strong in art from the 1700s to the early 1900s. You can see paintings by famous artists like Benjamin West and Thomas Sully. American landscape paintings are also a big part of the collection. These include works by Thomas Cole, Thomas Moran, and Frederic Edwin Church. Other artists from the Hudson River School like Jasper Cropsey and Albert Bierstadt are also featured. You can also see art by George Inness and John Frederick Kensett.
The museum has classic works by American impressionist painters. These include Childe Hassam and Willard Leroy Metcalf. William and Anna Singer became friends with these artists. This is how their art came to the museum. The The Ashcan School collection is also excellent. It has paintings by George Luks, Robert Henri, and William Merritt Chase. You can also see art by Arthur B. Davies and Eduard Steichen.
There is a smaller but important group of European, Asian, and African art. The museum also has beautiful Art Deco glass. This includes pieces by Tiffany and Lalique. The WCMFA's diverse collection also includes modern and early American art. You can also see pottery by the unique artist George Ohr.
The museum is very interested in art from Maryland. It has portraits by the Charles Willson Peale family of painters. This includes works by Rembrandt Peale and Sarah Miriam Peale. European Old Masters paintings are also on display. These include Saints Mary Magdalene and Paul by Giovanni Mazone and art by Jusepe de Ribera. These are in the museum's Schrieber Gallery.
The Singers bought an important group of thirteen sculptures by French artist Auguste Rodin. This included his famous Saint John the Baptist. They bought these in Amsterdam in 1931. At the same time, Anna Singer bought a study of Abraham Lincoln. This was for the Mount Rushmore monument, made by Gutzon Borglum.
Since Anna's passing, the museum has continued to collect art from the 1900s and today. It has important works by Milton Avery, Philip Guston, and Norman Rockwell. Other artists include Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler, and Grace Hartigan. You can also see art by Robert Indiana and Emily Clayton Bishop.
A beautiful stained glass panel is in the museum's rotunda. It was added by a local artist named Robert Martin in 1999.
