Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Boston, USA
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Visitor Information
Museum Address
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Boston, USA
Ticket Prices
$27
Featured Artists
15 artists in database
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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston was founded in 1870 with a commitment to "open its doors to all the world." The collection began at the Boston Athenæum before moving to Copley Square in 1876, then to its current Fenway location in 1909. Early Boston collectors embraced Impressionism when French critics still dismissed it. The MFA became the first American museum to acquire a Degas painting, purchasing Racehorses at Longchamp.
Today the museum holds over 450,000 works across more than 8,000 paintings, ranking among the most comprehensive collections in the Americas. Claude Monet's Grainstack series dominates the Impressionist galleries, with multiple versions showing light at different times of day. The Edwards siblings donated 57 paintings by Monet, Renoir, and Degas. American art features works by Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and John Singleton Copley. The Art of the Americas Wing traces painting from pre-Columbian times to the present. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection ranks second in the United States only to Philadelphia's Barnes Foundation.
Visiting Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Paul Gauguin's Where Do We Come From? (1897) is the star. Sargent's Daughters of Edward Darley Boit is another highlight. Both are in the permanent galleries.
Impressionism is the museum's greatest strength. Monet's Grainstack series is well represented, with multiple canvases showing different light conditions. The Post-Impressionist galleries (Gauguin, Van Gogh) follow.
The Japanese art collection is one of the finest outside Japan. The Egyptian collection is also world-class. Sargent painted murals directly in the museum's rotunda, which you can see for free in the public areas.
Free for members and kids under 17 (weekdays and weekends before noon). Otherwise around $27 for adults. Wednesday evenings after 4pm offer reduced pricing. Gauguin's Where Do We Come From hangs in the European galleries on the second floor.
Over 500,000 objects spanning 5,000 years. The Huntington Avenue building (1909) and the 2010 Art of the Americas Wing provide extensive gallery space. Monet, Renoir, and Degas fill the Impressionist galleries, among the richest in North America.
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Browse Our CollectionPlease note: Artwork locations and display status may change. Some paintings may be on loan, in restoration, or moved to different galleries within the museum. We recommend contacting Museum of Fine Arts, Boston directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.
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