The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is home to a collection of more than 18,000 works.
The Museum opened in March 1932 with only 13 objects from the permanent collection on view. Of the original 13 on display, four were of Asian or ancient origin, four were European sculptures – two of which were quite modern – and five were European works on paper dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries. Today, the collection has grown to include more than 18,000 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts as a result of active acquisitions by the Museum and generous donations to the Lyman Allyn.
The collection spans a 2,600-year period, ranging from ancient Greek and Roman artifacts to works by living artists, with particular strengths in American and European art from the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable artists in the collection include Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, John Copley, Winthrop Chandler, Paul Revere, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Sol LeWitt, Eugene Delacroix, Charles LeBrun, J. A. D. Ingres, and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, among many others.
Ongoing Efforts
We are currently undertaking a comprehensive inventory and assessment of collections and digitization of collections records, made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, to establish greater control over the Museum’s collection and increase its accessibility. As a result of the inventory and digitization project, the Museum provides access to a portion of our permanent collection online, creating a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone unable to visit the Museum in person.
Open Collections Day
When: Third Thursday of every month
Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Cost: Free with admission