Ever wondered how many masterpieces reside under one roof? The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston holds over 450000 works of art. It is one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas. Welcome to a journey through art history.
Founded in 1870, the Museum of Fine Arts initially resided on the top floor of the Boston Athenaeum. Its collection largely came from the Athenaeum’s Art Gallery. By 1876, it moved to a grand brick Gothic Revival building in Copley Square. John Hubbard Sturgis and Charles Brigham designed it.
In 1909, the Museum of Fine Arts moved to its current location on Huntington Avenue. Architect Guy Lowell designed this new home. His neoclassical design featured a 500-foot facade of granite and a grand rotunda. The plan allowed for construction in stages. Funding was obtained for each phase.
Maria Antoinette Evans Hunt funded the wing along The Fens. It opened in 1915 to house painting galleries. From 1916 to 1925, John Singer Sargent adorned the rotunda with frescoes. He also painted the associated colonnades.
The Decorative Arts Wing followed in 1928. It expanded in 1968. Later additions included the West Wing by I. M. Pei. It opened in 1981. Today, it is the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art.
The Museum of Fine Arts launched a major renovation in the mid-2000s. A seven-year campaign raised over $500 million. It also acquired over $160 million worth of art. The Art of the Americas Wing opened in 2010.
The Museum of Fine Arts collection spans various art movements and cultures. The museum maintains an online database. It has information on over 346000 items with digitized images.
Ancient Egyptian artifacts are a highlight. These include sculptures and jewelry dating back to 6500 BCE. The Museum of Fine Arts primarily obtained these through excavations. George A. Reisner led these in Egypt and Sudan.
The Museum of Fine Arts boasts the largest collection of Japanese artworks outside Japan. Anne Nishimura Morse oversees this collection. It includes 4000 Japanese paintings and 5000 ceramic pieces. There are also over 30000 ukiyo-e prints.
Ernest Fenollosa and others assembled the base of this collection in the late 19th century. They spent time in Japan and admired Japanese art. Their donations account for up to 75 percent of the collection.
The Museum of Fine Arts libraries hold over 450000 items. This includes art auction catalogs. The William Morris Hunt Memorial Library is the main branch.
The Museum of Fine Arts also focuses on community relations. The Community Artist Initiative invites a Lead Artist. They spend nine months creating works with youth. The art is inspired by the Museum of Fine Arts collection.
The Museum of Fine Arts offers many special exhibitions. These include items borrowed from other museums. Topics range from Africa and Oceania to textile and fashion arts.
Among the notable works is Cyrus Dallin’s Appeal to the Great Spirit. It stands prominently on the lawn. Winslow Homer’s The Fog Warning also resides here. You can also find Claude Monet’s La Japonaise. The Museum of Fine Arts offers a world of art to explore. Its rich history and diverse collections make it a treasure for all.