Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO

Q: What famous artworks are at the Saint Louis Art Museum?

Millet's peasant scenes and Claude Lorrain's idealized landscapes are highlights. Fragonard's Rococo paintings and German Expressionist works round out a surprisingly strong collection.

Q: Is the Saint Louis Art Museum free?

Yes, always free. It's one of the few major American museums with no admission charge at any time. Located in Forest Park, the 1904 World's Fair site. Chardin's still lifes are in the European galleries.

Q: What art periods does the collection cover?

Ancient through contemporary, with strong Impressionist and modern holdings. The Oceanic and pre-Columbian galleries are underrated. Fragonard and Rococo works share space with Dutch and Flemish painting on the upper level.

Q: What's the building like?

The Beaux-Arts building was originally the Fine Arts Palace for the 1904 World's Fair. A 2013 expansion by David Chipperfield added sleek modern galleries. It sits on Art Hill in Forest Park. Claude Lorrain's landscapes are in the Old Masters section.

Q: What American art is in the collection?

Strong holdings of 20th-century American painting and sculpture. The museum also has a notable photography collection and works by the Ashcan School. Millet's influence on American landscape painters makes those galleries a natural companion.

St. Louis, US

Visitor Information

Museum Address

1 Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States

St. Louis, US

Ticket Prices

Free (special exhibitions vary)

Official Website →

Featured Artists

15 artists in database

1Jean-Honoré Fragonard1 work 2Thomas Gainsborough1 work 3Jean-François Millet1 work 4Winslow Homer1 work 5Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin1 work

The Saint Louis Art Museum traces its origins to 1879 when the Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts was founded as part of Washington University. The museum gained its permanent home through the 1904 World's Fair. The Palace of Fine Arts, built atop Forest Park's highest hill, was the only fireproof structure among the fair's temporary exhibition halls. All other palaces were demolished; this one became the museum.

Today the collection spans over 34,000 objects from antiquity to the present. Strengths include Oceanic art, pre-Columbian pieces, and 20th-century German painting. Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin and Jean-Honoré Fragonard represent Rococo elegance. Winslow Homer and George Caleb Bingham showcase American Realism. Works by Matisse, Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh fill the modern galleries. Sir David Chipperfield's expansion opened in 2013. Admission is free through a cultural tax district for St. Louis City and County, drawing half a million visitors annually.

Visiting Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO

Millet's peasant scenes and Claude Lorrain's idealized landscapes are highlights. Fragonard's Rococo paintings and German Expressionist works round out a surprisingly strong collection.

Yes, always free. It's one of the few major American museums with no admission charge at any time. Located in Forest Park, the 1904 World's Fair site. Chardin's still lifes are in the European galleries.

Ancient through contemporary, with strong Impressionist and modern holdings. The Oceanic and pre-Columbian galleries are underrated. Fragonard and Rococo works share space with Dutch and Flemish painting on the upper level.

The Beaux-Arts building was originally the Fine Arts Palace for the 1904 World's Fair. A 2013 expansion by David Chipperfield added sleek modern galleries. It sits on Art Hill in Forest Park. Claude Lorrain's landscapes are in the Old Masters section.

Strong holdings of 20th-century American painting and sculpture. The museum also has a notable photography collection and works by the Ashcan School. Millet's influence on American landscape painters makes those galleries a natural companion.

Other Museums in St. Louis

Kemper Art Museum

1 artworks

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Please 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 Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.

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