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The Boston Museum of Fine Arts

At the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, you will find art in just about any form you can imagine. The museum has paintings, drawings, photography, furniture, jewelry, and textiles, and many other pieces on display. It has frequent lectures, tours, and other special events and exhibitions.

History

The Museum of Fine Arts dates back to 1876. It moved its way through several different locations and has undergone many upgrades over the years. Most of its initial collection came from the Boston Athenaeum Art Gallery, and its original Copley Square location was housed in an ornate Gothic Revival building. It moved to its current Huntington Avenue location in 1909 and has grown over the years with the addition of several wings.

In the mid-2000s, the museum's space increased by over 25 percent with a major expansion that improved several galleries and increased its ability to offer educational programs and visitor services. Today the museum houses several collections that include eclectic forms of artwork such as paintings, photography, sculptures, musical instruments, textiles, and jewelry.

Artwork

The Art of the Americas exhibit encompasses 53 galleries of artwork that dates back to the pre-Columbian era. The European collection boasts paintings by well-known artists like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Renoir, and Gauguin. The artwork in this collection spans the 7th century all the way up to the late 20th century and includes paintings on such materials as ivory and copper. You'll also marvel at metalwork, furniture, ceramics and other amazing works. The vast Asian collection encompasses China, Japan, India, Korea and Vietnam, and also celebrates the arts of the Islamic world. The Art of the Ancient World collection covers such locations as Egypt, Greece, Nubia, and Italy, with objects from as far back as 6500 BC. You'll see everything from carved gems and coins to musical instruments, weapons, and mummies. The museum also has a growing collection of African and Oceanic art.

The museum celebrates the new along with the old. Its contemporary art collection includes more than 200 works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Kathy Butterly, Josiah McElheny, Jenny Holzer, and many more.

Types of Art

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, features collections that touch on virtually every art form you can imagine. You'll find plenty of traditional types of artwork, like paintings, drawings, and photography. However, the museum also features a display of musical instruments like a grand piano dating back to the 1700s and brass horns from the same period, and a shell trumpet from Tibet from the mid-1800s. More contemporary pieces included an Indian zither. The jewelry collection ranges from ancient Egyptian pieces to contemporary studio creations. There are more than 27,000 different types of textiles, including clothes, embroidery and tapestry from Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Special Programs

The museum offers many special programs that attract locals and visitors. Some are adult oriented, while others appeal to the whole family. For example, it has seasonal events that let youngsters create their own art, movie screenings, concerts, and educational lectures. You can also take special tours that introduce you to the facility's collections or focus on particular works of art. Current event dates and descriptions can be found on the museum's website.

Visiting the Museum

The Museum of Fine Arts is open to visitors daily. You can purchase your admission tickets at the museum, but buying them in advance on the website often saves a lot of wait time. General admission usually includes admission to the museum's temporary exhibits as well as its permanent collections.

Art School

The museum is home to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which grants both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Its programs are offered in cooperation with Tufts and Northeastern Universities. The school campus is adjacent to the art museum, although it was housed in the museum's basement at the original Copley Square building from its 1876 founding through 1909. Noted children's author and illustrator Richard Scarry is one of its notable alumni.

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The Boston Museum of Fine Arts