Harvard Art Museums

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Harvard Art Museums are a part of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The museums comprise three museums: the Fogg Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. These museums are renowned for their extensive collections, which span a wide range of periods, cultures, and media.

History

The Harvard Art Museums were originally established in 1895 with the founding of the Fogg Museum. The Busch-Reisinger Museum was founded in 1903, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum was established in 1985. In 2008, the three museums were consolidated into a single institution, and in 2014, they reopened in a renovated and expanded facility designed by architect Renzo Piano.

Collections

The Harvard Art Museums' collections include over 250,000 objects, ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary art. The collections are divided among the three museums:

• The Fogg Museum focuses on Western art from the Middle Ages to the present, including paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings.
• The Busch-Reisinger Museum specializes in art from central and northern Europe, with a particular emphasis on German-speaking countries.
• The Arthur M. Sackler Museum houses collections of Asian, Islamic, and Indian art, as well as ancient Mediterranean and Byzantine art.

Research and Education

The Harvard Art Museums serve as a vital resource for teaching and research at Harvard University. They offer a range of educational programs, including lectures, workshops, and tours, designed to engage both the university community and the general public. The museums also support scholarly research through their extensive archives and library collections.

Facilities

The renovated facility, designed by Renzo Piano, includes state-of-the-art conservation laboratories, study centers, and classrooms. The design integrates the museums' historic buildings with modern spaces, creating a cohesive environment for the display and study of art.

Notable Exhibitions

The Harvard Art Museums have hosted numerous notable exhibitions, showcasing works from their own collections as well as loans from other institutions. These exhibitions have covered a wide range of topics, from ancient civilizations to contemporary art movements.

Related Pages

• Harvard University
• Fogg Museum
• Busch-Reisinger Museum
• Arthur M. Sackler Museum
• Renzo Piano