Wadswoth Atheneum

A Visit to Hartford Connecticut
By: J. Francis




A visit to Hartford would not be complete without exploring one of its most famous landmarks. Built in 1842, the Castle like, Gothic Revival Structure, better known as The Wadsworth Atheneum, is located at 600 Main Street, and it’s less than a five minute walk from the hustle and bustle of everyday life in downtown Hartford to the oldest public art museum in the United States. Founded by Daniel Wadsworth (1771–1848) of Hartford, who was a traveler, amateur artist, architect, and arts patron. The museum opened its doors on July31, 1844, and has been in continuous operation ever since. The museum first opened its doors with a collection contributed by the Wadsworth family consisting of, 78 paintings, two marble busts, one portrait miniature, and one bronze sculpture. Today that collection has grown to over 50,000 objects, spanning more than 5,000 years of world history. The museum was the first in America to acquire pieces by Salvador Dalí, Balthus, Frederic Church, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, Piet Mondrian, to name just a few. Also to be found are pieces including ancient Roman, Greek, and Egyptian bronzes; paintings from the Renaissance, Baroque, and French and American Impressionist eras, among others; 18th century French porcelains (including Meissen and Sèvres); Hudson River School landscapes; early American clothing and decorations; early African-American art and historical artifacts; and more.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, the $9.00 admission fee is money well spent to get lost in 5000 years of history.


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