Wadsworth Atheneum
Hartford, United States
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Visitor Information
Museum Address
600 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103, United States
Hartford, United States
Ticket Prices
$22 (under 12 free)
Featured Artists
9 artists in database
The Wadsworth Atheneum was founded in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth and opened in 1844 as the oldest continually operating public art museum in the United States. Built on the site of Wadsworth's family home, the Gothic Revival "castle" was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis and Ithiel Town. The initial collection of 78 paintings has grown to nearly 50,000 works spanning 5,000 years.
The museum pioneered American collecting with numerous "firsts." It became the first American museum to purchase works by Salvador Dalí, Balthus, Caravaggio, and Piet Mondrian. In 1931, it hosted America's first Surrealism exhibition, five years before MoMA. Caravaggio's Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy and works by Francisco de Zurbarán represent Baroque masters. Thomas Cole and the Hudson River School feature prominently through Elizabeth Jarvis Colt's donations. J.P. Morgan contributed Renaissance decorative arts.
Visiting Wadsworth Atheneum
Zurbarán's Saint Serapion (1628) is the best-known painting. Thomas Cole's Kaaterskill Falls and other Hudson River School landscapes are also major draws.
In 1842, making it the oldest public art museum in the United States. Daniel Wadsworth funded the original Gothic Revival building in Hartford, Connecticut. Baroque European paintings were among the earliest acquisitions.
Five thousand years of art. Baroque European painting, Hudson River School landscapes, and Surrealism (the first American museum to show it) are the three pillars. Zurbarán's white drapery in Saint Serapion is unforgettable.
Free on certain Saturdays and for members. Regular admission is about $15. It's in downtown Hartford, housed across five connected buildings. Thomas Cole's American landscapes hang near the 19th-century galleries on the second floor.
Beyond being America's oldest public art museum, it hosted the first Surrealist exhibition in the US (1931). It also has a strong decorative arts collection and an early commitment to contemporary work. Hudson River School painters are well represented in the American wing.
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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 Wadsworth Atheneum directly to confirm specific artwork availability before your visit.
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