Survey of American Painting
Explore three centuries of art through the portraits of Copley, Eakins, Sargent and Cassatt; the landscapes of Cole, Bierstadt, Homer, and Bellows; and the diversity of the 20th-century work of O’Keeffe, Wood, Pollock, and Estes.
Winslow Homer, Maine Coast, 1896, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of George A. Hearn, in memory of Arthur Hoppock Hearn, 1911
American Landscapes Through the Centuries
Landscape painting was the first uniquely American art beginning with the Hudson River School artists such as Cole and Kensett. Explore the Luminist paintings of Heade and Lane reflecting the coast of New England. The landscapes of Homer and Bellows illustrate the expressiveness of the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Late 19th-Century American Artists - Home and Abroad
While Eakins, Homer, Whistler, Sargent, and Cassatt, all studied abroad, each one made a unique contribution to the art of the late 19th century, both in Europe and America. We’ll explore their struggles and triumphs as they each changed the course of American painting.
Art of the WPA During the Great Depression
Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the Works Progress Administration in 1935 to provide economic relief for the unemployed. We’ll explore the variety of art initiatives that not only provided employment for thousands of artists, but also hope for the millions of Americans who experienced the murals, exhibitions, art centers, and art classes of the WPA.
A History of American Photography
An exploration of iconic images in American photography will provide a history of the evolution of this artistic medium that changed the way we viewed the world; from the daguerreotype in 1839, the Kodak camera in 1888, 35mm film and the Leica in 1913, 35mm SLRs by 1936, and digital photography in 1975.
American History Through Portraiture
From John Singleton Copley to Andy Warhol, for centuries, American artists have captured for our viewing today the portraits of the people who have created our history. Explore changes in artistic styles through the years in the faces of people such as George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and Marilyn Monroe.
American Revolutionary Painters and Their Politics
Explore five of the most prominent American artists during the Revolutionary War; their artistic contributions, as well as their involvement with the war. Learn how Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Charles Wilson Peale, Gilbert Stuart, and John Trumbull contributed to our New Nation.
The Armory Show (1913) and Modern Art in America
Explore both the European and American paintings shown in New York, Boston, and Chicago in 1913 that introduced Americans to modern art. Witness the impact of this epoch event on the lives of artists for decades to come.
A History of Black-American Artists
Discover more than 200 years of the history of Black-American art from before the Civil War to The Harlem Renaissance, one of the most notable movements in Black-American art, through today. Explore the unique experiences of inspired and determined artists.
Matthew Pratt, The American School, 1765, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1897