Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Reviews

Watch for the special artist exhibits. Also look for the music programs on Sundays in the winter. Something for all.

We went for a guided tour and although the guided tour was for an hour she picked 6 paintings to describe. We learnt a lot. It was a good basis to see the rest of the museum.

We had lunch in the cafe/bistro. Lovely food at reasonable prices.

Quite literally something for everyone: modern to medieval early American to Romanticism, to impressionists, some fauvism, ashcan, some ancient greek and other cultures thrown in. Period rooms too. Just an incredible variety and curated for quality. This is a place you could come back to and browse favorite selections, see what's been rotated in, etc. This is a major collection in a smaller city - what a treasure to have. Very reasonable admission fee for the quality. Knocks - the layout is a little confusing, my parking was on a two hour meter necessitating a trip outside (I'm sure there are other options however, but you know, cheap)

We gone many time to this Museum. Our Senior Center in town,had a bus trip. We saw Holiday Tree show plus you can tour the Museum. Every time we go I see something New. On Sunday you can park free on the streets.

The Wadsworth is an afternoon at the museum with a well rounded group of smaller categories including European Collections, Roman statues, modern art, local historical art collections and more. Every few years they modify the hangings and routing, although the recent attempt to copy
Giovanni Paolo Panini's "Interior of a Picture Gallery with the Collection of Cardinal Silvio Valenti Gonzaga" with their European collection is a miss, the museum is a great way to introduce children, enjoy and afternoon or attend one of their many events.

Worth taking a detour into Hartford. Top notch Art Museum made possible because of a significant J Pierpont Morgan art collection given to the Atheneum. The collection is creatively displayed.
Really wonderful breadth in the collection. They have it!

New Year’s Eve out with my husband. Spent the day at the museum before dinner. Beautiful museum with an eclectic variety of art.

Never expected Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art to be that good! The J.P.Morgan’s bequest is phenomenal… and his collection is displayed not only in the magnificent hall that proudly bears his name, but literally in every room of this amazing museum.

The collections of Sevres porcelain and silver objects from different countries is second to none. It is hard to imagine how these elaborate pieces of art were even created. The details, the colors, the craftsmanship… superb in all respects.

The art and sculpture collections are also very impressive: the statuettes, vases, funerary items from the Ancient Greece and Rome, early Renaissance artwork, paintings by Donatello, Titian, Ribera, Salvatore Rosa, American art and furniture, and stellar examples of Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and Surrealism.

The building itself is absolutely perfect for housing such a precious collection of word treasures and the attendants could not be kinder and more helpful.

We didn’t need to buy the tickets because we are NARM members. We will be back for more - driving from Boston is not a problem at all.

Who would have thought that 'little' Hartford, CT (--prob. more inhabitants than my country--) would have such a great museum--also thanks to JP Morgan and other 'robber barons'.
But fun aside, the curators were truly providential: apparently the MOMA and they had a choice between 2 Dalis, and the MOMA chose the one with the melting clocks, which has become iconic, prob. just bc it's in NY, whereas the one that ended up here is truly my favorite: a LOT more intricate and less superficially placative. Do take the tour, bc the museum is easy to get lost in. Nice also on a hot summer day bc of the AC ;-)

We had a wonderful time at the Myths and Monsters exhibit launch reception for members. The surrealism exhibit and the reception for it was fun and quirky and the Jazz band was great. With both the curator from the Wadsworth and the Baltimore museum pairing up to present the pieces it was incredibly informative. It was and fun and interesting night as always.

Wadsworth Athenaeum is a mid-sized art museum, with three levels of galleries around a central courtyard room. It’s hard to identify a focus, but the collection is primarily European paintings after 1500 and significant American paintings and modern/contemporary works. It’s not a large collection but it’s high quality. Highlights include a rare Caravaggio, a terrific Dali painting and abstract expressionist pieces. Unfortunately, the museum continues to require masks even though the law does not require it and vaccines are widely available; an unnecessary and uncomfortable requirement resulting in the 2-star deduction I apply for unwarranted pandemic restrictions.

We went to the Wadsworth Atheneum specifically to see the current watercolor exhibit--Hopper, Burchfield, Marin, etc., which is excellent--all works from the museum collection. In addition, we explored the other galleries and loved what we found. While the 20th century and newer works are impressive, we also found the collection and its donors a social and economic history of the earlier tastes and wealth of Hartford.

JP Morgan and family endowed a dream museum, filled with wonderful art and much of JP's personal collection. A must see!!

I spent this rainy afternoon exploring the museum!! It’s fantastic! The person who took my ticket was sure to mention the latest exhibits and point them out on a map for me... unasked! Thank you!! I really appreciated the insight. The Gorey exhibit is a must see and displayed in a way that does great justice to the subject! I also loved the glimpses that were added into the artists personal life. Additions such as pieces from his personal collection added so much depth to the exhibit! Don’t miss it!!

At first, I thought the place is tiny. But once you get in, the museum is actually huge. The variety of arts display is spectacular. Very educational, entertaining and I must say, very well managed. We ended our tour with a good lunch at the museum cafe. Excellent place to visit!

From the ancient to the modern, this art museum has a little of everything, for an informative and beautiful overview of art through the ages. Small enough to take everything in and still have time for a bite to eat in the elegant but welcoming restaurant. A wonderful way to spend a day in Hartford.

Highly recommend visiting this museum. Part of the elite group of museums in the country (similar to Metropolitan or Walters). From antiquity of Greek to 18th century and baroque. The mix of modern and contemporary was blended extremely well. The permanent collection must be visited and viewed. The rooms and building design compliment and add the the viewing experience.

I was so pleasantly surprised to find the range and depth of exhibits within this very old museum. First of all, the physical museum is beautiful and looks like a castle. The floors are laid out in a confusing manner, but, each individual room has a central focus. I saw several famous paintings there including an original Norman Rockwell. I also learned a little about local Connecticut history in their displays. Allow a least 3 hours at the bare minimum.

A very fine collection of European and American paintings with many interesting curios from around the world.

Very well run and impressive collections. Beautiful place all around. Great gift shop!
More then just a museum. Concerts, charity events, holiday decor, etc. Well worth a visit or many visits.

The capital building of CT cost over 2 million dollars to build in the 1800s. The stained glass and interior design are remarkable. Tours are offered through the building and the Legislative Office
Building. This building is also striking.

While the layout of the museum can be a little confusing, this is a great place to wander through and see all kinds of art. We appreciated that the collections were so varied and there was so much to see. The exhibit of J.P. Morgan's collection was especially interesting.

The Antheneum is large and has an excellent and varied collection. We spent the day by pacing ourselves.

Great collection without being overwhelming. The staff is very helpful and friendly and plenty of parking right on the street (and free on weekends). They have a nice collection of Hudson Valley School paintings and my daughters enjoyed the room on the French Revolution - which is sadly lacking in Paris itself.

I came to Hartford for a day to see several museums but that plan was foiled: the Wadsworth is was so big and had such an interesting collection that I spent nearly the entire day there exploring room after room. Medieval art (something relevant to my studies) to modern and contemporary art (something I'm interested in) and just about every century in between - they have it all. Including works by artists I love like Salvador Dalí.
The student discount also really helped to make the museum more accessible to me.
The gift shop also had a good selection of souvenirs so I could bring some home to my artist friends.

I visited Wadsowrth at the end of September and loved viewing their collections. The layout is somewhat confusing and I found myself returning to sections I had already seen. Give yourself 1-2 hours to be able to at least see everything. Also, no panoramic pictures are allowed with Wadsworth.

The Wasdsworth Atheneum is the oldest art museum in the US. they have an excellent collection. There is a Degas, Monet, Cezanne, and other artists that you would be interested in seeing. I recommend the cafe as well for lunch.

This is such museum that has so many fun and interesting programs. I go every year for the Festival of Trees. Businesses and organizations decorate trees or make beautiful wreaths. These are a fundraiser for the museum. All the items are for sale and you can bring them home well before Christmas. They offered music and dance performances during the event.
They do a Fine Art and Flowers show in April. Last year they had floral artists making arrangements based on a painting the museums owns. So cool. They have a big auditorium in the basement where they have lectures and movies. One Saturday a month is free for Hartford families.
They also have a large courtyard in the center of the museum where they have events and outdoor movies in the summer. Last year, they set up a glass demonstration there in conjunction with beautiful exhibit of a variety of glass art. The gift shop is really nice too. I've done many tours there also. Some discuss the current exhibit or go into detail about a specific painting or artists. Make sure you check their calendar before you go so you can take advantage of some of the thing I mentioned above.

We were privileged to have a private tour of the Hudson River painting collection at the museum. We have never seen a collection of such depth and interest. This has to be one of the best collections on the subject in the country. After a box lunch in the Cafe our group split up to take highlights tours with excellent docents who were delighted to share their knowledge with guests.
We were left on our own for about an hour and a half and still felt there was much more to be seen. This after 5 hours in the Museum!!
Check on available parking before you leave home. Cafe is small but service is very efficient. It could get crowded on busy days so plan accordingly. Terrific gift shop with helpful personnel.
The Atheneum has a wonderful staff- knowledgeable, courteous and eager to be of help.
What a wonderful day!

The Wadsworth Atheneum is a fine mid-size museum with interesting exhibits and a good permanent collection spanning centuries of art, but, if you've experienced some of the renowned museums of the world, it may be a bit of a letdown. If you're from out of state and find yourself in the Hartford area, it's worth a visit. If you live in Connecticut, it makes a good day trip and the library museum pass program offers free admission. The staff is welcoming and the docents are knowledgeable.

The Wadsworth is a really first rate museum, with many excellent collections--particularly modern and American art, but there is plenty more to see. Don't just buzz past Hartford! Stop and visit the Wadsworth!

I had wanted to visit for a long time and finally we took a day trip to Hartford. A nice selection of art. Convenient parking nearby- check the museum website for details.

I recently read a book called The Short Story of Art and was intrigued to find a painting done by Artemisia Gentileschi in 1620. She was the first woman allowed into the Florence Fine Arts Academy and was the most prominent female artist during the Renaissance. Her story is quite amazing for that time period. ANYWAY, I saw in this book that there was a self portrait that she had done at the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford. I live in Boston. How had I never heard of an art museum that had this type of artwork on display? The next day, there was an article in the Boston Globe about museums and road trips. I was shocked to look up the museum online and what the exhibitions were. Extremely long review short..GO! We went on a rainy Saturday and there was hardly anyone there (which was good but such a shame!). This is a very large museum that you could easily spend three hours in and includes a full spectrum of artwork (modern, contemporary, ceramics, etc). I was excited to see a painting by Klimt that was done early in his career and, though unlike his best known works, was absolutely stunning! There are treasures around every corner and the employees were very kind and willing to answer any questions. I cannot recommend it enough!

I lived across the street for five years and was a member. This is a wonderful museum with an outstanding permanent collection and always has traveling collections on display.

Use your local library card for free admission. There are many excellent works of art in this museum and they have one of the best museum stores I’ve ever been to. I enjoy their collections of well curated works that focus on African American life. I come to this museum a few times a year.

AA good selection of various art genres and the annual Christmas Tree exhibit and sale is great. Area near Atheneum is picking up with the recent opening of UConn Hartford

I will say that I enjoyed a brief visit to the museum last month. You're likely to enjoy what you see. But truth to tell, if you've lived in New York and seen as many art museums and exhibits as I have, it's not very exciting. I saw just about all I found interesting within an hour. If you haven't, you'll enjoy an afternoon. The museum has a few examples of everything. And it's very historic. So, make of this review what you will.

A wonderful collection of (as everyone says) diverse art. Something for everyone. As we were on a tour and scheduled time, we really would have loved to wander on our own for a few hours.

I greatly underestimated the size of this museum and got overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of beauty and culture. The special exhibition, Afrocosmologies, was refreshing. Great collection-- actual Rococo porcelain, European painting including both Gentileschis.

Take your time here. You will need it. I was pleasantly surprised at the art offerings here at the Wadsworth. Dali, Picasso, Rockwell, O'Keefe among MANY others. The main hall is breathtaking. You should allow 2-3 hours. Plenty of seating in each room so that if you need a break it's easy. Go on the weekend and parking around the museum is free. Also, the staff there are engaging, friendly, and knowledgeable. Don't hesitate. Can't wait to go back.

I recently moved to the area and decided to explore. This museum was such a pleasant surprise! It has a variety of collections, including pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Goya, and Kusama amongst many others! They also have a café inside. You can spend all day in there.

I decided to tour the museum while visiting Hartford. I was really impressed by the collection. The European, American, and Hudson River School paintings were especially fantastic. I get a laugh at a lot of contemporary art no matter where I go and the same holds true here. They had an interesting exhibit on bedding of yesteryear including bed curtains and mattress materials. The religious art was fantastic. Also there is a grand hall with beautiful paintings from waist high to nearly the ceiling. The staff including security were all nice with helping people find their way around. They have a nice gift shop too.

Works and sculptures for every taste. I thought The Hudson River School paintings were wonderful and they brought a calming effect to me. My granddaughter enjoyed the abstracts and contemporary. We explored the special exhibit on the 3rd floor: Hand Painted Pop! Art And Appropriation, 1961 To Now. A captivating 10 minute film by American born Bill Viola: titled Ascension 2000 is not to be missed. This film is located in a back corner room in Contemporary.

This is an outstanding art museum. I've traveled to more than 40 countries, and the collection and exhibitions at the Wadsworth Atheneum stand up to the finest art museums anywhere.

The encyclopedic collections are superb and beautifully displayed with very readable wall text. The galleries are stunning. It was a great pleasure spending the afternoon there. The shop has a good selection of art books and other items.

It is a must when visiting Hartford!

Not only is this art museum housed in a beautiful building, but the collections within it are amazing. From the room with almost every inch covered in paintings to the sculptures sprinkled throughout to the ancient artifacts, Wadsworth Atheneum is worth a visit!!

Great art collection in a beautiful building. They also run good programs and show interesting movies.

Always an adventure on the Wadsworth 1st Thursday's Atheneum after dark events this one blew us away. Caribbean themed, it took place outside the Atheneum with live music, make your own jewelry tables for the kids and Caribbean inspired appetizers. Inside African American and Caribbean artists were highlighted for the tours. The Atheneum has upped their game to make a fun and inspired event.

We have been here several times to look at the art and colonial furniture collections. This was a special trip to view several of the original works by John Trumbull done after the Revolutionary War. Many of his works hang in the rotunda of the United Staes Capitol.

We visited in August to see the special exhibit on Frederick Church. Also saw the permanent collection of Hudson River School paintings as well as the other American and European art. Well worth the time to see this collection. The staff and guards are incredibly friendly and helpful. Clean restrooms, nice gift shop. Park in nearby garage for $3 total if you validate the parking ticket at the museum gift shop - this is a very good deal.

Great collection, beautifully displayed. Incredible works of art from across cultures. And time. On the weekend found street parking right behind the museum.

The state of Connecticut has an extensive network of museums included in the Connecticut Art Trail. Visitors can get an art trail pass which allows them to see all the museums included on the pass. I wish I had known that when we embarked on our museum tour of the state.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is probably the most important of them all. It has a very extensive collection, including American and European Impressionists, the Hudson River School, surrealist and modern painters, ceramics, furniture and much, much more. It really requires at least one day to see it all.

When we were there, there were special exhibitions of two artists' works: Frederic Edwin Church and Herbert Ferber. I am partial to Church's works. He was the very first student of Thomas Cole, the founder of the Hudson River School of painters. They painted landscapes mainly. But Church traveled far and wide, to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and to South America. Many of his travel paintings were on exhibit. I loved it.

If you an art lover, this is a must-see.

It was a quick but enjoyable visit. I plan on returning next time I get to Hartford for another game. Staff were very nice. Good varied collection

If you like going to art museums, this one will be a treat. Cozy and intimate, light-years from the busy, crowded experience of the bigger brothers in NY or Washington. The quality of the art works is surprizing for such little known museum. My visit coincided with the staging of Verdi's Aida in one of the larger rooms of the museum. What a special experience to look at beautiful paintings on the sound of Aida's arias! Chapeau!

My travel companion majored in fine art and was blown away by the collection of American (and European) art at this local gem. We were there for 6 hours, including one hour for lunch at their little cafe, and there was quite a bit that we didn't get to see.

We go to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York fairly regularly (every couple of years) and the collection at the Wadsworth was very impressive. We saw so many works that we've never laid eyes on, even with multiple trips to the MoMA, Metropolitan, Guggenheim and Whitney.

Worth the trip. $15 admission.

The Wadsworth is historic and has a great collection. It is a special surprise in downtown Hartford. The new plaza will add to its charm. The docents are so helpful and the museum has a wonderful and varied collection.

We spent several hours visiting the Wadsworth Atheneum for the first time and we were delighted with what we found. It seemed huge to start with, but the floor plan is easy to figure out and the galleries are easy to navigate. Many of the rooms are large and airy and wonderful for viewing the art hanging on the walls. We took a guided 1-hour tour which gave us a very good overview; then we went back and explored more on our own. They don't have a parking lot, but they will validate your parking ticket for a nearby garage -- check their website for which one -- so that your parking will only cost 3 dollars. They do not have any food, but they do have an excellent gift shop. It is impossible to see and appreciate all the art in one visit. We will be back to see more!

The Wadsworth Atheneum is known the world over for the quality of its art -- from Caravaggio, to Picasso, to the Hudson River School, to the latest contemporary stars of the art world like Mark Bradford (who represented the US at the most recent Venice Biennale). The Wadsworth has them all, and much, much more. Founded in 1842, it's the country's oldest public art museum. Unfortunately, history left Hartford behind, and the Wadsworth's splendors aren't as well known as they deserve to be. This place is definitely worth a visit! If you are traveling between New York and Boston, it isn't hard to detour to Hartford to visit for a few hours -- and it's easy to drive into and out of Hartford on a weekend; you can even park on the street next to the museum. There are good restaurants nearby.

Beautiful museum to view art from old to new. Always enjoy our visits here. We visit throughout the year

This is a very well planned and designed museum. The gift of JP Morgan’s art of one third of his personal collection is impressive. The museum is divided into several wings with excellent art collections representing multiple countries and schools of art. There are very well written descriptions to describe the artist and the subject. The cafe is excellent with professional and thoughtful staff. The people working in the museum take pride in their work as demonstrated by answering questions. The gift shop is also a gem. This is major reason to visit Hartford

For a small art museum, this one does have a nice variety displayed. Artwork and paintings from many countries and many periods of history. This was a pleasant way to spend a cold afternoon.

This museum has such a wonderful display of pieces ranging from ancient to contemporary Art. My friends and I visit the museum often.

Our first time visiting on a free admission Second Saturday. My 7 year old son and my 9 year old daughter enjoyed their first time to the Wadsworth. It helped to have some fun activities to try out. We only could keep them engaged for about an hour but they were interested in the art and many different exhibits.

I saw a live acoustic show.
Two men kissing was the play and it was splendid !
The men were so in tune with their harmonies it made me cry.
And the storytelling was so realistic.
You felt like you were in the play.
The seats were comfy and the acoustic's
were perfect.
I can't wait to visit here again!

Although the collection is not really large they have a few very good paintings, mostly 19th and 20th century. Terrific early Klimt canvas, Munch, Magritte, Chagall, Dali, Ernst, a couple of good Van Goghs,. Also they have one painting by Pavel Tchelitchev on display, albeit only one even though they have a few more in the vault. Old masters are represented by Hals, van Dyck, Goya. The American section has a couple of Andrew Wyeth paintings, Sargent. The only problem they keep the surrealists in glassed frames and the light reflects so badly in the room that the colors and the paintings are difficult to see (thus 3 stars).

Worth a few hours to enjoy properly, this is a delightful museum. Parking is a bit difficult at times, so check for close public garages and parking lots before your trip.

Had been here long time back. It's a good size art museum with so many art exhibits at one place. Was initially reluctant to go but after visiting this place, have enjoyed a lot.

Love to come down look at the art and enjoy a quick meal at the cafe, great way to relax on a Sunday

This museum has something for everyone, children's activities to keep their interest while viewing, a wide variety of artists , great traveling exhibits, a surprising collection of the old masters, and even some elegant rooms to view. One year I purchased a membership, and I never tired of going. Sometimes I would slip in and just have a peaceful time sitting in my favorite collection rooms. As I mentioned the traveling exhibits are a wonderful addition to what you will see there. They even had a Caravaggio exhibit shown only in the Wadsworth Atheneum in the whole USA. The staff is very accommodating, the price is quite reasonable, and children under twelve are free. That makes it a relatively inexpensive day for a family. Weather you live nearby or just visiting, everything about this museum is filled with delights to the eye, peaceful settings and history. There is street parking all around the block, and almost within walking distance a delightful historical carousel, park, and the capitol which you can tour for free. In my humble opinion, it is the best part of the city.

There is so much art to see in one day 🙂. There was an event for young children today so my kids enjoy all the creative activities had lots of Xmas trees too it Was treat to see. Total 3 floors with many historical items and lots and lots of paintings.

Once again must watch. . Go early so that you can see as much as possible.

Look at it for my wedding . Gorgeous grounds and beautiful architecture. Everyone that I encountered trying to get details for my event were super nice and super helpful

Look carefully on the photo - the letters mounted above the entrance were the perfect introduction to an afternoon of amazing art. If you have not been to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, please go, as I promise it will not disappoint. Salvador Dali, Georgia O'Keefe, Norman Rockwell, Baroque art, European, post war contemporary- we were almost overwhelmed after our 2 hour visit. Emotional, moving and a true pleasure to experience.

I visited the gift shop today because I had no ideas about what to get for Christmas gifts.I had intended to bring my brother,his wife and my Godchild for a visit there since I had become a member,but they couldn't make the Thanksgiving trip.So I decided to tantalize them with what the Wadsworth has to offer-they will want to come without any holiday as an excuse.I almost got all my shopping done.

Just totally renovated the museum is spacious and bright. The museum itself is a work of art. Beautiful displays of many periods of art. I particularly liked the Hudson River School area but other areas were fascinating also. Some local libraries have free passes if you live within 35 miles and it was on the Bank America credit card deal for free admission on the first weekend of every month (check list) We went on a Sunday and it was not crowded. The parking is free on the street on Saturday and Sunday. The museum guides were delightful and extremely helpful with directions to the various exhibits.

Stopped by Wadsworth Atheneum during the Connecticut Open House day on May 8, so not the normal experience. There were modern dance performers and musicians performing in addition to opportunities for arts and crafts projects. I found the exhibits in the museum to be very interesting and diverse, with modern art, classical European art, American Hudson River art and everything in between. Well worth spending a couple of hours when you are in downtown Hartford.

With an afternoon free we decided to visit the Atheneum and we're so glad we did. There were some not-to-be-missed artworks from Warhol, Van Gogh, Zurbaran and Calder (just to name a few), Meissen porcelain collection as well as collections of ancient art and artifacts. The Cabinet of Curiosity is a fascinating collection of decorative objects and beautiful "findings" like shells. Although we spent an entire afternoon at the Wadsworth, we didn't see all the museum had to offer and definitely plan to return.

We initially decided to drop into the Wadsworth Atheneum because they have a 4-5PM "Happy Hour," no drinks, just free art to see! We happened to arrive during the weekend that they have flower arrangements around selected works; the $5 surcharge was definitely worth it! It gave us great pleasure and a whole different perspective on some of our favorite artists!

This museum is a gem. I was impressed with the range of artwork. Warhol's Jackie Kennedy portrait. A Georgia O'Keefe oyster shell, a Frank Lloyd Wright desk. It's a delightful place to spend an afternoon. I highly recommend a visit.

CONSISTENTLY WORTHWHILE

The Wadsworth Atheneum, one of the best art museums between New York and Boston, has been a Hartford institution since the 1840s. It houses an impressive variety of paintings, sculptures, and other works – from Chinese porcelains to beautifully crafted colonial furniture to fine fabrics. Through the years they’ve had a broad array of special exhibits, most recently a spectacular showing of objects from J.P. Morgan’s own collection (he was one of the Atheneum’s early benefactors).

The Atheneum also offers classic and recent movies, a good café that features Sunday jazz brunches, and an excellent gift shop. We’ve been coming here for over 30 years, on our own or with visitors from out of town (they’re invariably impressed with it.) With each visit we invariably discover something new. It is one of Connecticut’s cultural treasures. The bottom line: highly recommended.

I went with my family, husband and 2 kids, to spend part of my birthday there. Once we entered into the main hall there was a statue in a water feature where people could toss coins. Both of my children leaned over to toss their coins in. Within a few minutes we were looking around at the art while my youngest with my husband went back to the water. My son leaned over again and a very rude security staff member came charging out and started scolding both my husband and child for touching the ledge. They were no where near the water or doing anything that we hadn't done to toss the coins in. My husband was so upset by the very rude staff person that we left within 10 minutes of getting there. Especially since they encourage family and then treated us like that.

This museum is a must see if in Hartford area. It is small enough to do without fatigue and rich enough in the collections to be of interest to all levels of Art Appreciation. If time permits, The New Britain Museum is about 10 miles away and it too has an amazing collection of American Art. It is the OLDEST museum to devote itself to American Art. Both are worth a days experience.

This beautiful museum has something for everyone. I am a Renaissance Art fan so to see a huge room of it was thrilling! Art of all kinds is displayed. There are so many directions to go in. Lots of branching out. The exterior is a cool castle. Definitely worth visiting!

The oldest continually operating art museum in the US boasts a brilliant collection of art works from a wide range of periods and artists! Our visit was enhanced by a splendid docent whose valuable comments increased our knowledge and enjoyment. Looking forward to a return visit furing a future trip to Hartford!

The Wadsworth is much more than just an "art" museum. It offers great cinema, Sunday concerts in the atrium, good dining and shopping options, and wonderful programs for children and adults. What more could we ask for? We visit again and again, and never tire of what is offered. How lucky we are to have this gem in our capital city!

The Wandsworth Atheneum Museum is a gem in Hartford. It has three levels with many different side rooms to browse. They have places to sit and take a break if you get sensory overload from all beautiful art. Right now, there is a Sam Messer exhibit on display.

The prices are more than reasonable, the military get in for free and there is even a happy hour from 4-5! There are parking garages in the area, and if you are lucky you might be able to get a space in front (two hour parking).

If you love art, you will not want to miss the Wandsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon.

We came with our kids (7 and 9) and got through about 3/4 of the museum with them although we were rushing toward the end as there attention was waning. It is a great place with a lot of different types of art.

Spent the afternoon at the Wadsworth, there is so much to see. For a smaller muesem, they have a great collection from many eras and places. They have pieces from many renowned artists.

There is an awful lot to see here! The building can be a little confusing as to where you are, even with a floor plan to work with but the staff is all very helpful. One security guard overheard a question we had on the location of another gallery and went out of his way to help locate the city in New York for us, very nice. We liked mostly the American pieces, Hudson River School and there are a few of those along with some contemporary works. I would plan to spend at least 90 minutes here.

We had to rush through this museum because of a parking situation, and we got a late start. It closed at 5:00, and we arrived at 2:30 and headed to the cafe for a late lunch. At 4:00 the lane we were parked in becomes a traffic lane. We had to move and decided to just leave. You will want at least two hours here. There is a nice variety of paintings, sculpture, artifacts, porcelains, etc. We saw everything but didn’t linger. One item you will not want to miss is the second chair made out of the famous Charter Oak tree. The other one sits in the State Capitol and is used by the Lt. Governor. We sat in that one on our tour of the Capitol but missed seeing the totally different looking one at the Wadsworth. This is simply a beautiful museum.

I use to live in Hartford and visited as much as possible, now that I don't live there I visit as much as possible. The Wadsworth has a collection of European, Early American/Colonial, Contemporary, Greek, Roman Art, Afro-American Art plus Special Art Exhibits throughout the year. In addition to the art it has a collection of Early American Furniture, Colonial Furniture as well as Silverware and Housewares. Also on location is a Cafe, with an outdoor courtyard, either inside or outdoors is a great place to have a sit and relax-check with the Wadsworth for the hours of operation for the Cafe. Last but not least is the Cinema/Auditorium. The Cinema shows an eclectic variety of movies which the Wadsworth uses their Auditorium to show. The Auditorium is a treasure as well is the Wadsworth

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art multiple times, most recently on Sunday, August 5, 2018. Our primary focus during this visit was on the special exhibit, which I address first within this write-up. However, we also visited the permanent exhibits within the museum, including the Hudson River School artwork which had strong ties to the special exhibit. Our local library had a museum pass for this museum, allowing for free admission, which was a rather nice added bonus to our visit. We parked on the street on the side of the Hartford Public Library for this visit. This parking was free on Sunday.

The special exhibit was ‘Frederic Church: A Painter’s Pilgrimage’. It had multiple galleries that detailed Church’s multi-year trips with his family to the Middle East and Mediterranean to paint historical and biblical sites. His artwork depicted many different landscapes, temples, and architectural details of such places as Petra in Jordan; St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy; the Pantheon in Athens, Greece; the Holy City of Jerusalem; Samaria in Palestine; Baalbek in Lebanon; as well as sites in Syria, Persia (Iran), and much more. The work on Olana, his beautiful estate in New York which was nicely illustrated within the exhibit, showed elements from different cultures and eras, based on this trip. This special exhibit was exquisite, very well curated and definitely worth seeing. The write-ups within the exhibit explained what was on display very well and made the exhibit very interesting. The exhibit was like a trip to ancient worlds and cultures back through time and was quite impressive.

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art, including the great collection of American Decorative Arts, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionist pieces and Samuel Colt Collections. The Hudson River School paintings tied in well with the Frederic Church’s special exhibit, because they included multiple impressive landscape paintings by Church, as well as other prominent world renowned artists who followed the Hudson River School approach. We also liked the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects on display. The write-ups about them are very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural impact. The large collection of Baroque Art as well as the artwork in the Great Hall presented in salon style are all also quite nice, including the supporting write-ups describing the art.

All the art throughout this museum is nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details. This museum is definitely worth visiting and is highly recommended. The museum has a great mixture of various types of artwork.

I'm a big fan of art museums outside mega-cities and I've been wanting to come here for a long time. A temporary exhibit of Frederick Church paintings finally brought me to Hartford. There is a lot to like about the permanent collection and the ways in which it is displayed. One room evokes a "cabinet of curiosities" from another century. Go ahead! You can open the drawers. Art is often displayed in parlors and there is a late 19th century parlor reconstruction. A grand gallery has paintings hung floor to ceiling, including a painting of such a gallery three or four hundred years ago. In addition to an excellent permanent collection of paintings and sculpture, there is a vast ceramics collection. The second Saturday of every month is a free family day.

It was so rainy out that we decided to go into the museum. I'm glad we did. It was well thought out and well put together. Definitely covid spacing friendly. Love the artwork. Great job guys

Established in 1842 the oldest public ( not necessarily free any more) art museum with over 50,000 displays has undergone a 33M reno and it is stunning. The permanent collections boast the largest Hudson River collection in the world and everything from baroque, classic, American , European, Antiquities, a Victorian and colonial suite, historic display of curiosities. Pop up or revolving short term or feature exhibits are always inspiring. Wonderful reference library and amply thoughtfully stocked gift shop. Restaurant should re-open soon. Some street parking and discounted parking at Front Street garage. Places to sit in most galleries, detailed postings for explanations of art. And an audio and narrative you can access from your smart phone. Staff is always helpful and personable from the welcome desk, gift shop, security and more! Some annual festivities include Flower show and Festival of Trees, and Martin Luther King commemoration activities-- and more. Proud to say I had art lessons there as a child in the 60's. Dance recitals. Even got married in the Morgan Great Hall in 2002. Lots of amazing memories over the decades. A TREASURE-- visit now , and return often.

It's really unbelievable that such a collection exists in Hartford, of all places. I'm not even into art that much, but when you're standing face to face with a Van Gogh, it makes quite an impression. Gallery after gallery, it will have something for everyone. There's ancient pottery and artifacts, Renaissance art, American folk art, everything. American, European, African, Asian. I could go on and on. Just go there and check it out. And the best part? They actually let you take pictures! (Without the flash, of course). This is an exceptional art experience without the stuffiness of some of the other major museums. Beautiful building, too.

This was my third visit, and I was pleased again with the variety and the changes in the exhibits. Bring your parking garage ticket to the museum shop for reduced price validation. I always head to the Hudson River School room, and I always seem to find a new corner of this labyrinth of a museum. Explore, and you will find something different around every corner.

What a wonderful museum. The Atheneum is of the caliber of New York and Boston museums. We are so lucky to have this gem with ever changing exhibits in our states capital.

Picassos' to the left of you, Caravaggio to the right; the Wadsworth Atheneum is the first place to visit if you're through or traveling to Hartford , CT.
With a world reknown collection that ranges from ancient artifacts to the hottest contemporary artists, the Wadsworth is truly Hartford's jewel box.

What an amazing exhibit. Stunning! Left us all speechless! The Dali paintings were just so remarkable. To see such a collection in one museum...extraordinary!

My most recent visit to the Atheneum was exceptional. My mother and I were greeted at the reception desk by a visitor services person who recognized my mother from a previous visit. The visitor services person asked if we were there for a specific exhibition and then helped us find it on the museum gallery map. We proceeded into the galleries and were impressed by the museum guards. I asked one guard where an exhibition was and he guided us to the location, asking at one point if my mother was ok with a few stairs. In the Cabinet of Art and Curiosity gallery (wonderful, by the way), a guard handed us a gallery guide and suggested that it was helpful in identifying the objects on view (it was). In the museum shop, I asked the associate if the shop sold one of the gallery guides. The shop did not, but she had a photocopy that she gave me to take home and suggested that the guides might be found on the museum website. The galleries are beautiful and the exhibitions were interesting and informative. I particularly liked the Cabinet of Art and Curiosity gallery and the exhibition of American Decorative Arts, which combined a variety of objects by period or style.

In the spring the flower show is a must see.Flower arrangements are displayed all over the museum depicting the painting.

We last went to this during the Christmas-tree festival that occurs just after Thanksgiving. Local community groups decorate trees and wreaths that can be purchased and/or bought at auction for a good cause. There are musical performances that include modern dance, string, Afro-dance all from local groups. We brought my mother-in-law (family with teens was the only category that was available) and enjoyed immensely. Be sure to stop at the gift shop which is also fabulous. The entire museum is open at this time.

Really nice architecture makes for an interesting journey through. Neat exhibits of newer stuff, but also their older pieces really give you a view into history.

Right in the middle of Hartford is this fabulous Museum. Found street parking no problem and used our reciprocity agreement from the Portland Museum of Art in Maine. The staff throughout this entire museum are the most friendly and helpful I have ever experienced. Pointing out specific features like using your cell phone for the whole story behind an exhibit, to helping with the fold out brochures regarding the art. The Contemporary wing was open and airy and quite relaxing, along with a 'short' independent video which was very unusual. I could spend an entire day in the Great Hall learning about the exquisite works that line the walls. Very innovative and unusual exhibits too. A very peaceful and pleasant day! Will definitely be back the next time we are in the Hartford area.

We attended a wedding, reception dinner and dancing at this manicured facility. The artwork, heirlooms and priceless decorations made this a once in a lifetime pleasure. The Wadsworth Mansion has select vendors to cater events and their tastes in catering companies equals the splendor of the mansion. It is worth the energy and time to visit the Wadsworth Mansion in you are in or near Hartford/Middletown,

We timed our visit on 3/22 so we could also tour the Mark Twain house. I wish we had allotted more time for the museum. Although we managed to see the exhibits, I felt like I rushed through everything! It was a delight! Lovely displays, wonderful signage, and a nice collection of art covering several periods. The location is excellent and there is ample on street parking.
The Wadsworth is a mid-size museum with a nice sample of art. It's not the Met or the MFA, but it does have some interesting pieces and they are nicely displayed.
We also enjoyed the gift shop...

The gift shop at the museum contains beautiful gifts just like its title. There are unique jewelry items like handmade necklaces and Mobius strips bracelets, scarves, books, children's gifts, kitchen items, and elegant little purses.

If you are there after 4 the museum is free for s short time.

This is a really good art museum in Hartford, CT. They have an excellent variety of art genre and pieces. I spent two hours there and could have spent longer. I really liked their selection of Hudson River Valley artists and their modern art. It is very much worth a visit.

This museum is one of our favorites to go to. They are always working on new and exciting exhibits. During the Christmas Holiday they always have a tree decoration exhibit and it is just beautiful...My family has been going to this exhibit for years now.

The museum has very limited parking right in front of it, but there are a few parking facilities very near by that can be used.

The staff have always been welcoming and informative, they also don't mind taking photos of your family! :)

This place is the proverbial diamond in the rough.

I am a contemporary lover of all things mellow, relaxed and beautiful ie: jazz, poetry and art. So, during my "Me day" I decided to go stroll in my childhood memory scrapbook and came acrossed a picture of the WadsWorth and decided to go back and check out what was new within the 21 years since i visit the museum. I loved everybit of it. I had my jazz music playing while strolling along the hallways and seeing old memories and making new ones. The never lost their classic touch! It encourage me to visit often, since my visit. Maybe, when I have children I'll bring them here just like how my mom use to being me.

I was stunned to see not only impressive displays, but also intensive, intentional community engagement. On Open House Day, the Wadsworth celebrated Juneteenth, and the space was filled with children playing and laughing, music, creative opportunities, and fantastic memories.

The art is well displayed, and grouped intelligently. The building is composed of three separate wings, and distances inside are considerable, with elevators in odd locations.

With the recent reopening of this historic art museum, the Atheneum and its collection are a favorite. The depth and breadth of the collection is stunning and the decorative arts are integrated in the new installation. It is like taking a walk through the art history of the Western World. Highlights include the Baroque, Contemporary, Hudson River School and Post Modern wings. Try to time when there is a docent tour and it will be an even better experience.

Went here on a free saturday afternoon. Was not busy at all. Huge place, did not have time to see even a portion of it.

This museum has quite a lot of exquisite paintings - almost every great artist from the last two hundred years is represented here. The building itself is interesting as well. The last hour they let you in for free, which is good if you are on a tight budget - if not you should give yourself a bit more time and pay the ticket.

A stunningly beautiful reunion of three large panels by Utamaro is at the Atheneum now. Two of the three paintings were purchased in the 19th century by American collectors and are owned by the Freer Gallery in Washington,D.C. and Atheneum. The third,"lost" panel was rediscovered in in 2014 in the Okada Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan. This is the first reunion of the paintings and is beautifully presented and exceptionally well described. If you are a devotee of Japanese art make every effort to see this exhibition.

We visited during December and loved the museum. A lot more art than we expected, from paintings to statuary to artifacts (some of which you can evidently touch). Lots of time periods represented. We didn't do a docent led tour, but will next time. We also got to see the Hall of Trees since it was Christmas.

My husband and I took 4 hours hear on our way to Maine to see our son for Christmas!
The Quilting/ Crewel exhibit on bed-furnishings of the 1600 through early 1900 was amazing. My husband even enjoyed seeing the advancements in technique through the years. Samples of rugs, quilts, and draping were equisite.
The other part of our tour was on Surealistic Art through the World Wars in Europe and the USA. Really interesting history behind it. It has left WAdsworth and now is in Baltimore at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD. Come visit Baltimore and see it! There is a lot to see.

First time to visit since it’s renovation. Really worth a visit. So much to see. So many different courts and areas on 3 levels.
Ancient Art, Medieval, European, American, Baroque, you name it they have it. my husband loved the area called Cabinet of Art and Curiosity. They have also placed wonderful display cabinets containing pieces, from a similar time period as the art on display, in most of the galleries. Great cafe. Street parking free Saturdays and Sundays. Guided Highlight tour was excellent. There is a special Gorey’s World exhibit on display at the moment. Don’t miss this excellent Museum of Art.

Excellent museum. I went to see the Freedomland exhibit but found many other areas of the museum fascinating. The map is easy to read and the displays are very informational. You can set up an “audio tour” as well and listen as you wander around. I went to the Hair Story exhibit as well and it held so many stories and history about hair. The gift shop is reasonably priced. I saw the works of Picasso, Van Gogh, and Jacob Lawrence to name a few of my favorite artists.

I worked at the Wadsworth years ago and recently went with my family for a return visit - and was I impressed! This museum never stops changing and growing - the new "curiosities" section was amazing! All the little geegaws and artifcacts from seashells to feathers to natural oddities showcased in one area to gape at in awe. I could have stayed there for hours.
The museum has also updated its collection rooms and the flow from one area to another really allows you to appreciate the breadth of the collection.
Three Cheers!!!

I found the Wadsworth Atheneum to have a great mix and variety of styles and genres of artwork. The museum is large enough to house a good size collection, but now so large that you feel overwhelmed. The staff was friendly and looking to assist the visitors. It was also great to see children being actively engaged by the staff in their educational program. Plus if you are hungry, the café is a pleasant place to relax with some good eats.

I could spend days in this fabulous museum! Each room holds such wonderful delights. When my daughter, who majored in Art History, accompanied me, she was transfixed by many of the pieces. :-)

My husband and I attended the Taste of Hartford event here. We were so pleasantly surprised that the interior was completely redone and it is stunning. Definitely worth a trip!

A Fabulous Little Museum in the Heart of Hartford which holds a wide variety of old and new artworks and has terrific special displays and events.

I've visited this museum on many occasions and been fortunate to attend many diverse events spanning multiple cultural experiences, which usually pair with a featured exhibit. There are many 'halls' in the museum which harken us back to a myriad of archtiectural designs. The Wadsworth houses halls of contemporary, European, Costume, and more. The AVERY COURT is by far my favourite. It is utre elegant, with its beautiful fountain and statue, designed hundreds of years ago for a garden in Florence. The feeling is Rome or Athens, and this court enhances each event planned there. I've attended more than a few receptions at Avery Court, the last one was several months ago when The Discovery Channel & Infinity sponsored The Background Film of the Real Green Book. Being a lover of the film, I thoroughly enjoyed learning so much more about that time in America. So many veried cultural festivities take place at Avery Court, inclusive of events sponsored by the AMISTAD CENTER FOR ARTS & CULTURE, of which I was a member for several years. Their JUNETEENTH celebrations are always spectacular and each large hall is used, inclusive of magnificent multistory Morgan Great Hall. Amistad Center is an integral part of the Hartford experience as well as for all Americans as it focuses on remembering where we've been, where we are, and where we are going. They often bring in guest speakers. And guest speakers for the many programs at The Wadsworth continue to revitalize and perpetuate this museum. Years ago, SIMON DOONAN of BARNEY'S fame came to share his witty book with us about 'dressing the wealthy', and the reception followed. What good fun. I attended the tour of vintage jewelry used in Downton Abbey, which was a passion for so many PBS fans. A lecture followed on the style and design of many pieces during that time period. Fascinating. When a film about Hedy Lamaar, actor-inventor, was featured, I attended its screening at The Wadsworth, and was pleased to find two of her film costumes on loan for that event. Aside from wines, liquour and hors d'ouevres offered free at certain events at Avery and in the cinema area, one can always purchase wine & candies downstairs before attending a featured cinema film, of which there are programs for all seasons. There is that vital touch of CULTURAL AWARENESS which so enriches everyone's lives when one attends a Wadsworth Atheneum event. Gengras Court in the summertime features film festivities each week. This is not your 'drive-in', its your OUTDOOR SIT-IN spot for film viewing. Adjacent to it is the Untitled Bistro which still does jazz brunches on Sundays. AND...there's a charming gift shop which I always think is a wonderful way to 'contribute' to the Museum, even modestly so. Its a delightful venue and continues to enchant.

Spent the whole afternoon here. The place is enormous with a maze of rooms, all with different exhibits in.
Well worth the money.

The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is a magnificent art museum. It is not to be missed by any art lover. There are beautiful masterpieces all over. You must take your time to explore all the exhibits.

The Wadsworth Atheneum is a beautiful museum that has a well-curated collection and an inviting atmosphere. I went here with my family for a day trip and we all enjoyed the variation in the art, ranging from contemporary to antiquities. I especially enjoyed the more modern collection, which included some Magritte and Picasso.

The building itself is a landmark in Hartford and I would recommend this place for anyone looking to learn more about the culture of the city.

if the Wadsworth Atheneum were in New York City it would be in competition with all of NYC museums. This gem is off the beaten path for most New York tourists but is absolutely worth a 2.5 hour drive. there is an amazing collection which is large enough to host special exhibits out of its own collection as well as loans. Only issue is that the museum has too much to be enjoyed in a few hours.

For such a small museum, in a city that gets a bad rap, the Wadsworth is a gem. I specifically wanted to see the Bauhaus exhibit which was quite small but had some great books to look at, so overall, my impression was positive. My wife roamed the galleries and did find that it was confusing, even with a map. The building itself is impressive, and the art on display is small by museum standards - so yes one Ruebens, and one van Gogh and a Warhol or two, but in general an wide-ranging collection of all periods and styles.

We had so much fun with Sez Zion, Lamont Williams and group were incredible. The buffet was wonderful as usual with fresh orange juice (PLUS). Quiche Lorraine, Tomato and Spinach Quiche, Challah French Toast, Bagels & Cream Cheese, Breakfast Potatoes, Assorted Pastries, Fresh Fruit, Sausage and Bacon. Great coffee and wonderful service. Mimosas or Bloody Mary complimentary. The new Edward Gorey Exhibit ends May 6th. If you love PBS/Masterpiece Mystery, he did the art work, drawings and more. Don't miss it! It is inspiring and emotional for some of us who remember the beginnings of "Mystery".

A mere 1/3 mile from the Marriott/Convention Center, this is a must see.
I spent almost 3 hours there gazing and re-gazing at the incredible art. The museum itself is worth seeing and is the perfect showcase for the exhibitions...the curator is to be loudly applauded for the selection and layout.
I took lots of pictures (no flash, please) so I could enjoy a bit of the museum from home. When I told the front desk this as I was leaving, they told me they have about 50,000 pieces of art on their website! Can't wait to visit it.

I had a tuna salad before I left in their cafe. I think she went out and picked the greens, cherry tomatoes and baby cukes by hand just before serving it with a nice size scoop of tuna and a delightful dressing.

I told everyone I saw at the conference to go for a visit if they were at all able. Wonderful day.

We went in 2008 and the art was amazing. The history of the building and the fine architecture was breath taking

I haven't been here in over thirty years since I had moved away. Now I'm back and took a friend visiting from Indiana with the pass from my local library. Just as beautiful as I remember. Love the building as much as the art displayed there.

They say this is the oldest continually operating museum of art in the U.S. It is not a large museum, and can easily be enjoyed in a day. They have an amazing collection of original art work from many famous artists from across the country and around the world. It was truly inspiring to stand in front of so many originals from renowned artists and just soak them in. If you enjoy art this is a great way to spend a 1/2 day to a day in Hartford.

Who knew that such an extensive and amazing museum was located in Hartford? We went as an afterthought when we went to see the Mark Twain house and some other things in Hartford. We were all amazed at the extensive collections housed in the fantastic architectural gems that comprise this museum.

Whatever you want to see, they have it! There are multiple collections, along with extensive art, history and examples of antiquities, juxtaposed to modern art decorating the walls. Quite simply stunning and well worth the trip to Hartford.

The special value was that it was free to enter on a Friday afternoon! Quite special and they even had some music playing from 6-8pm!

I've lived 2 hours from here my whole life and yet whenever I had a reason to go to the Atheneum I found a reason to say no. Finally we're doing a road trip and wanting to see the Isaac Julien show decided it was time to go to Hartford. And what a great surprise! So many classic gems but also some great cutting edge pieces. Hartford is lucky to have such a resource. I've become a member and will keep a closer watch on their exhibitions and pop up more often. Well- again!

Attended the Utamaro pre exhibit as a member only event. Staff was incredible (as always), super friendly and helpful for an after hours event. The apps and cash bar turned it into a very elegant evening.

I live in the next town and only went here once years ago. I thought it was very small with little variety in the artwork. I was very wrong. This place is surprisingly large with an amazing assortment of all time periods/styles of art. There are also furniture items, curios, and even a few rooms out of antique homes. We came for the Gorey exhibit, which did not disappoint. We ended up spending a few hours looking around. Must see!

Three floors of wonderful art, sculpture and porcelains beautifully displayed and labeled. The cases are well lit and show of the collections well.

What a treat. OMG. Gallery after gallery of fine art. Modern. Abstract. Impressionist American & European. Ancient works and artifacts. Furniture collections. China and porcelain and decorative arts. Loads of beautiful exhibits. Definitely make sure you take the time to visit. Park at Front Street garage for a special price after your tickets are validated. Walk through the neighborhood for lunch. Or make a reservation for lunch in the museum. Very impressed. Take a tour or just wander around.

Very nce museum especially during the holidays with their tree and wreath displays. Outstanding collection of Hudson River artists. Great Thomas Cole and Church paintings.

Even though we are members of the museum and visit it often, we decided to take one of the guided tours and we were happy that we did. The tour highlighted some of the treasures in the museum like the recently acquired Poppies by Van Gogh and the beautiful La Vecchio on loan to the museum. Just a wonderful museum that we love to visit over and over. I would highly recommended these guides tour talks.

We had a very nice visit to the Atheneum. Once inside
you get a sense of a"grand place" that lives up to its
reputation.
It is not difficult to find the art that appeals to you with benches arranged to sit and take it in
at your leisure.

This was the first time since the 1970s that
I walked through the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum. Now I am sorry that it took so long to return. The experience was wonderful and I will be returning soon.

it was a first time for me to discover certain information from times past, easy to understand and free this museum allowed me to have a taste of hartford ct

A nicely curated collection of primarily European and American art. I always find something interesting in the contemporary section. Frequent very informative gallery tours and speakers.

My wife and I started our vacation in Hartford just to visit this museum. It exceeded our expectations. We happened to go during an exhibit of work by Frederick Church -- it was nicely arranged, with good lighting. We also spent some time in their Hudson River School galleries. The two sections occupied all of our time so we were not able to go to the rest of the museum. We found the paintings to be nicely lit. The staff were very helpful. The museum store was nicely stocked.

I have been a member for many years and can't miss the new exhibits. Fine Art & Flowers in April is one of my top days every year (pair with girlfriends & lunch). I used to work across the street, going over to look at a Manet, Renoir or Klimt on my lunch hour made stress disappear! Just fantastic!

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest museum in the USA Very good and convenient building just in the center of downtown. many interesting collections of art from around the world. Sometimes show temporary exhibitions. I use my bank of America card to visit the museum for free many times

Had a function in the Avery Courtyard, but also had the opportunity to visit the first floor galleries. Eclectic collection including a wonderful George Segal installation and impressive selections from Medieval to Contemporary art.

I visited on a Saturday with my husband and two young children (ages 2 and 4), and we all had such a marvelous time. The museum was hosting their monthly “Second Saturday” for families, and there were adorable art activities for kids throughout the galleries.

The museum itself has a truly spectacular collection. I’d forgotten just how impressive it is. I loved seeing the John Singer Sargent portrait of Ruth Sears Bacon and the Cecilia Beaux portrait of George Dudley Seymour. Their Hudson River School collection is vast and not to be missed either!

The Wadsworth is a fantastic museum for even the most casual of art lovers to spend a few hours. It's not at all what you expect to find tucked away in Hartford. With the CT Science Museum located across the street, it's well worth a drive in to the city.

This impressive medium-sized museum really does have a remarkably diverse collection of well-presented works of art. If you like modern art and design, they have some great examples. If you like European Old Master paintings or ancient art, they have those, too! It would be difficult to name favorites but there are masterpieces by Georgia O'Keeffe, Toulouse Lautrec, Alice Neal, Joan Miro, and Caravaggio, just to name a few. The curators also do a great job of interspersing eye-catching decorative art pieces throughout, and who doesn't love that giant, orange Alexander Calder just outside?! The guides here are especially helpful and friendly, the parking is easy, and there are always several small special exhibitions that add to the experience. Save time for the tempting gift-shop as well . . .

I'd never really heard of this Museum before, but we had plenty of time, and love art, so we thought we'd give it a quick wander. I have to say, we were really impressed with the collection. Think of an artist you may know, and they likely have a work by them. It's a well-curated collection, presented in a first-rate manner. Honestly, this museum could be a more major 'art" city, Chicago, Philadelphia, NY, and it would not disappoint.

This is a lovely museum. They have some great exhibits. The annual festival of trees is beautiful. There is also a very nice cafe inside opened for lunch. Well worth a visit.

We go every year when local organizations decorate trees and wreathes which are auctioned off, I believe. If you use a pass from your local library, you'll still have to pay a couple of dollars. We have never had a problem finding parking, but since last year UConn moved their West Hartford campus to the old Hartford Times building which is right behind the museum, so I don'tknow how the parking will be this year.

Pleasantly surprised to see Monet, Van Gogh, Dali and reach collection of Renaissance art. Large hall with salon style European art is breathtaking. Worth the visit even if you are not planning to stay in Hartford, allow at least 2 hours to enjoy the collection

As my wife and I had taken a day trip from southwestern New Hampshire by car and train, we chose this museum, in part, because of its proximity to the Hartford Amtrak Station.

On our first trip to this museum, a three hour visit, we concentrated our time in the Hudson River School and European Galleries and were well pleased. As the art museum was not crowded, we had plenty of time to ask questions of the helpful staff.

We took a break from our tour to stop by the cafe/food area for a coffee. Had we not already eaten, we would have included a full meal on our visit. The seats were very comfortable, and outside seating is available. We also stopped by the gift shop.

Went specificially to see the exhibit on Edward Gorey and was totally surprised at the scope of the other pieces of artwork on display. This museum is worth the trip .

I've been to the wadsworth a few times now I usually go when it is free to the public to go in. They did a wonderful job renovating, easy access to all parts of the museum. I have been there will different people every time and everyone leaves satisfied that we were a little bit more cultured than before we entered.

Very nice museum. Shame seemed so few people there. Lot of interesting pieces. Thrilled to see a van Gogh self portrait up close. Parking on street at pay and display ticket spot.

So much to see. Have been going here for over 50 years. Stop by the gift shop and plan on have lunch in the cafe. Xmas is very special with all the trees.

Very interesting exhibits, worth your while. They have also different paintings from time to time. A very interesting place.

Especially since the recent refurbishment and re-installation, the Wadsworth Atheneum is a terrific place to see a wide range of quality art.

We went there in 2008. It was fine. We returned in Sept. 2019. It was a nightmare. Why? Part our problem (now 72 y.o.) part theirs.

But first, the main thing we came to see: "The Lady of Shalott" by Wm. Holman Hunt. This is a BIG picture. It's about 5 ft. x 6ft. +. In 2008 it was displayed at the end of a room so that you could stand back an appreciate it. They have moved it to a corridor, where it's impossible to step far enough away to see it. Why? A huge disappointment.

We picked up a gallery map at the entrance. That was a mistake. The museum is made up of two separate buildings, which have been joined together--sort of. But not on every floor!!! That would be much too easy. Some floors connect, others don't. Elevators COULD have a sign--inside or out--saying something like "if you want the 3rd floor of the old building, use the elevator to your...." But no. No signs. Nor is it clearly marked on the map. So we wandered around a LOT trying to get from one building to another. Since neither of us are very mobile, this was, literally, a pain. The guards tried to be helpful, but their directions were of the "turn left at the pub, but mind you we don't count the Old Dog as a pub. Then go left at the pig sty, but not hard left, mind, a gentle left...." In other words, "Good luck to you. If we find your body after closing, we'll give it proper burial." It turned what should have been an hour visit into two hours.

Also, I needed a restroom when I came in. The young woman at the desk directed me to a men's room 33 (?) steps down in the basement. She didn't offer any alternative. Later, in our wanderings, we found a men's room on the same floor not far from the entrance. She should have mentioned this, but she didn't bother. Why not?

We complained about the map as we went out to two employees at the desk. They cheerfully acknowledged that the map wasn't very clear. But...then why didn't they give a bit of explanation when they handed us the map two hours before???? It wasn't busy. They could clearly see we were particularly athletic....

So in summary: If you're young and fit, pretend it's an adventure game. If you're over 70 or have mobility problems, you're in deep trouble.

Of note, the museum is free between 4-5pm. We were on our whirlwind 3 day minivacay of CT and somehow my husband managed to get us to the museum at 3:55. And parking was available on the street!! So glad we went although I wish we had more time to look at the collections because there were many wonderful pieces of art to admire. But he was very pleased with himself for squeezing this in.

The museum's collection includes paintings, sculpture, ceramics, furniture over a wide range of periods. Appropriately American artists are particularly well represented. Many pieces by the most well known artists are probably not their best work, but are interesting nonetheless. Highlights for me were the lovely Renoir of Monet in his garden; a superlative Degas of ballerinas; a Vlaminck of barges on the Seine; and Hanson's contemporary sunbather (very funny!). Unfortunately the docent did not show up for either of her tours scheduled this day....

Very diverse museum that is not overwhelming. While we were there, a fabulous glass exhibition was there. The architecture of the building also is interesting.

I knew the museum was not opened on a Monday, so I was not expecting to get inside. However, it was simply enjoyable to see the exterior and walk around the building. We did get to see some of the outdoor public sculptures and a statue of Nathan Hale the spy who said his only regret was he could only give one life for his country. This is the first public art museum in the country. Something else to come back for.

I’ve heard about the Wadsworth for years and it exceeded my expectations. The collection is broad and varied from design and Hudson school pieces to a Kusama pumpkin. The special Sean Scully show was outstanding

The museum surprises one at every turn. We had no idea the collection was this diverse and superbly curated. There are pieces for everyone to appreciate. My preference is for modern so the Pollacks, Dalis, Miros, etc., exhibited more than entertained me. The Great Hall housed an impressive array of European classics. The scope of the collection is almost too much to take in in one visit. Modern and classic furniture, landscapes, antiquities, early Chinese and early Christian pieces...it just goes on and on. The Atheneum is a must-do stop in Hartford

This is an extraordinarily rich and diverse museum, where one could easily spend a couple of days lingering through a labyrinth of rooms, periods and art forms. It has a strong painting and sculpture collection, notable for its American art and one could focus one visit on this. To me, the most remarkable aspect of the museum is the delightful collection of ceramics, many of which were donated over 100 years agao by Pierpoint Morgan. The figurines by the famous Meissen artist Kaendler and the wide range of vases and plates from Sevres and various English potteries and Italian majolica workshops are wonderful. The room full of curiosities will delight many visitors. This is a must see if you ever visit Connecticut and could make a good day trip if you are staying in New York

Fairly small, but packs a punch. This is a really great art museum. Cool & varied selection along with rotating exhibits to keep it fresh. Plenty of areas to explore, but I like that it's a smaller museum because you don't get overwhelmed or bored. Great little gift shop as well, with a good selection, not just the same stuff as every other museum gift shop.

I could not imagine how there could be so much amazing art here. It is a beautiful museum with so many moving pieces that it's definitely a must visit if you're anywhere near here.

What a wonderful tour and museum. So interesting and such beautiful works of art. The tour guide was so informative and the gift shop was lovely. Highly recommend visiting here.

Very Impressive Mixture of Various Types of Art in Both the Special and Permanent Exhibits

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, multiple times, most recently on Sunday, December 9, 2018. Our primary focus during this visit was on the annual “Festival of Trees” exhibit, which was quite exquisite and enjoyable, as well as the other special exhibits. I addressed these exhibits below. However, we also visited the permanent exhibits within the museum. All the art throughout this museum was nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details.

This museum, which was definitely worth visiting and highly recommended, had a great mixture of various types of artwork, addressing art from multiple perspectives, including cultural, historical and political, depending upon what was applicable. We always have enjoyed this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as well.

Our visit to the museum took about an hour and a half, based on the amount of time available to us. However, it could easily have taken more than three hours to really see and absorb all the artwork that was on display. We parked on the street on the side of the Hartford Public Library for this visit. This parking was free on Sunday there, and was a short walk to and from the museum. There was also validated parking for a $3 flat rate for museum visitors at the Front Street South Garage, GPS Address – 62 Front Street Crossing, Hartford. Your local library may have passes for free admission into this museum.

Special Exhibits:

The “Festival of Trees”, which we have visited over the past several years, was located in multiple galleries on the first floor and was nicely laid out. All the trees and wreaths were decorated quite beautifully. In particular, we were quite impressed with the trees in the Great Hall, which were a nice addition to the artwork in this gallery.

The special exhibit “Monsters and Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s", was quite interesting, unique and very educational. It was a good lesson in history. Hartford’s role in embracing Surrealism, in particular the Wadsworth’s role, was nicely illustrated. Surrealism’s purpose to revolutionize society through artmaking beyond reality was portrayed.

Multiple subject areas and aspects of Surrealism were presented, including the Emergence of Monsters, depicting the horrors of war; the influence of the Civil War in Spain, the impact of Dislocation and War World II; and Survival and Renewal: Surrealism in America. These areas were nicely presented with well written overviews providing definitions and good background information as well as good examples of artwork by multiple well renowned artists. The artwork featured very unique pieces by Salvador Dali, such as the ‘Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach,’ which had many types of interesting images incorporated into it. The explanation that Surrealism can be understood historically only in relation to war provided good insight into this type of art for me. This exhibit helped me develop an appreciation for Surrealism and was definitely worth seeing, being well laid out and nicely done.

The special exhibit ‘Bed Furnishings in Early America: An Intimate Look’ depicted the significant role the bed played in life’s daily cycles of early America. This included its evolution and cultural exchange impact, among other unique aspects. The exhibit featured interesting subjects, including ‘Snug in a Bed Rug’ where rugs were used on beds instead of as floor coverings. The rugs and quilts that were on display within the exhibit were impressively crafted, with great examples of handwork reflecting the textile making skills of talented artisans. The Crewel Work, embroidery using worsted yarn, was quite beautiful. The overviews and detailed write-ups within this exhibit were also quite informative and provided a good historical perspective, including how beds and bedding were related to social status, financial stability and age. This exhibit was definitely interesting and quite unique.


Permanent Exhibits:

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art. The American Art featured a great collection of American Decorative Arts, Colonial America pieces, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionist pieces, the Samuel Colt Collection and the exquisite Wetmore Parlor. The Hudson River School paintings included multiple impressive landscape paintings by world renowned artists who followed the unique Hudson River School approach, which has always been one of our favorites. We also enjoyed the large collection of Baroque Art as well as the other European Art from the French Revolution, Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements and the artwork in the Great Hall presented in salon style. In addition, we liked the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects on display. The write-ups about all this artwork were very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural, historical and political impact.

Again, we recommend this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have for a great mixture of various types of artwork.

My daughter and I toured the museum and attended the jazz brunch. The food was a great buffet and the music was top of the pops. You really need to visit the oldest art museum in America. Picasso, Van Gogh and the French Impressionists exhibits are wonderful.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here but several things could have made it better. The parking situation leaves a lot to be desired! I was a solo tourist and finally pulled over and called the museum to find out where to park. The street in the front has construction and I ended up parking on the street in the back. All my possessions were in the rental car so I was a little nervous about the street parking. Also, I would have liked an audio tour or something more thorough than the map I received. I did not have a mobile device and when I purchased my ticket no one told me that I could borrow one (information I found in the brochure too late to help me). The collection itself was amazing; I was surprised at the number of famous artists represented.

A beautiful space, well worth a visit. I took many photos and was especially keen on using a fisheye lens on my mobile phone.

We spent a lovely morning at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Large museum with a varied collection of American & European Art, Asian Antiquities, Contemporary Art, etc.

There were a surprising amount of well known artists on display: PIcasso, Magritte, Romney, Renoir, etc.

It was community day on the day we visited. There were many activities set up for kids and lots of volunteers on hand to assist.

Such an unexpected gem in Hartford, CT. So glad we visited!

We don't get to Hartford as often as we'd like, but when we do it is often specifically to spend the better part of a day at this gem of a museum. This last trip we were interested in the glass exhibit [ "Fired Up" ] and once again The Wadsworth - Atheneum did not disappoint! Exceptionally well done special exhibit (placement, lighting, flow, information), docents on the floor helpfully engaged with the visitors, and there was a demonstration of glassblowing in the outside patio space which was marvelous and featured one of the best glassblowers we'd seen on Netflix's "Blown Away"!!

In addition to the special exhibits, the permanent collection is what my mom would call, "choice" - turn a corner in every gallery and either see an old favorite or a piece you've never seen before by a favorite artist, there is a nice balance of painting, sculpture, mixed media art, but also historically relevant decorative arts, ceramics, and antiquities.

The galleries are accessible, the staff are attentive, helpful, and kind, and the little cafe is just the right place for a cup of coffee or a light lunch. We highly recommend the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and encourage all visitors to Hartford to make sure to spend a few hours here - you won't regret it!

You would think an art museum in Hartford, Connecticut would be small, but you would be wrong. The museum is rather large with about 3 connected buildings from stark and modern to elegant and classical. They also vary between one and three floors, but aren’t always connected on the upper floors. At $15 the price is a little high, but it was well worth it
My favorite area was upstairs on the 3rd floor of the Avery building they have an excellent room full of Hudson River school paintings that are stunning.
There isn't much here for kids, and while I visited, one youngster discovered that if you scream, EVERYONE in the Avery building can hear you. So unless they appreciate art, you might leave the kids at home.
I followed the web site directions and parked in the Front Street South Garage for $3 (take your ticket with you). I explored downtown Hartford, then went to the museum.
Be sure to visit Hartford City Hall next door while you are in the area, it has a stunning arcade and skylight and no security check, so you can walk in and look around.

Great museum and collection of art. Good experience and conversations with a docent, who was knowledgeable in what the artists conveyed. A must see while in Hartford.

The Wadsworth is museum that engages the eye and the soul of the observer. Art for every age, the museum has not just pieces you expect to find in a fine arts museum, but performances and interactive experiences. Easy to walk through, you can enjoy in an hour or all day. Parking garages nearby.

This museum was very impressive. It had a little of all the well-known artists as well as lesser knowns and contemporary pieces. It was easy to navigate, the guards were very knowledgeable and there were even docent tours in session. We saw Picasso, O'Keefe, Chagall, Van Gogh, Renoir and more. My husband loves Jackson Pollock so he spent a lot of time studying those pieces. It's definitely worth visiting.

Don't think you breeze in and out of this glorious museum because it is chock full of magnificent art, sculptures, dining and shopping. There is also something new and wonderful to feast your eyes upon I addition to the old standbys that have been there forever (like the sunbathing lady).

This museum is home to a large and varied collection of world-wide art, and is one of Hartford's cultural highlights. In addition to its permanent collection, the Atheneum also features changing special exhibits, films, and other programs.

Hadn't been back in along time.They certain updated and changed the place.Its a wonderful place to see history,in many forms.from interesting paintings to knights armor ,to all manner of relics and documents.

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art multiple times, most recently on Sunday, November 5th. Our primary focus during this visit was on the current temporary exhibits, which I address first within this write-up. However, we also visited the permanent exhibits within the museum.

The ‘Morgan: Mind of the Collector’ exhibit was exquisite and very well done. It included a number of different types of unique items from J. P. Morgan’s own collection. This was a wonderful exhibit and definitely worth seeing. The ‘Subline North: Romantic Painters Discover Norway’ landscape paintings was also beautiful and a nice extension to the similar style Hudson River School landscape paintings the museum has on display in their nearby permanent collection on the 3rd floor. Both temporary exhibits were accompanied by great documentation with very good supporting details describing them. The ‘Denis the Pirate’ exhibit and accompanying film were interesting but was not really the type of art that we like. We enjoy the more traditional type of art.

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art, including the great collection of American Decorative Arts, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionist pieces and Samuel Colt Collections. We also liked the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects on display. The write-ups about them are very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural impact. The large collection of Baroque Art as well as the artwork in the Great Hall presented in salon style are all also quite nice, including the supporting write-ups describing the art.

All the art throughout this museum is nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details. This museum is definitely worth visiting and is highly recommended. The museum has a great mixture of various types of artwork.

Although smaller than mega-city museums, the collections are overwhelming in their size and variety. It is a shame that this museum, perhaps the oldest in the country, is overlooked in the shadows of New York and Boston.

We have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum multiple times, most recently on Sunday, July 30th. We enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art, including the great collection of American Decorative Arts, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionist pieces and Samuel Colt Collections. They are all very beautiful and nicely documented, including the time period associated with them. We also liked the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects on display. These are all also very beautiful. The write-ups about them are also very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural impact. The large collection of Baroque Art is also quite nice, including supporting write-ups. In addition, the changing/temporary exhibits are very nice and unique. In particular, we liked the Simply Splendid: Rediscovering American Design Exhibit. All the items on display in this exhibit were beautiful and quite unique. The only negative thing to say about this exhibit was that we wished it was larger with more items on display. Overall this is a very nice museum that we recommend to visit!!

I visited recently with my 13-year-old son, an adult friend, and her 4-year-old granddaughter. We all had a terrific time! We came for the Festival of Trees and loved looking at all the different clever themes, as well as beautiful live music throughout the morning (we heard a children's choir and a high school a cappella group). This museum has a beautiful Hudson River School collection that I loved seeing! I will return soon for the Norwegian landscape exhibit that we didn't have time for today. We took the Fastrack bus from New Britain - so convenient (stop is right across a side street) and inexpensive. The museum offers conveniences like a coatroom with free lockers as well as clean bathrooms, a lovely gift shop, and a café that we did not visit today but that smelled wonderful! Can't wait to come back again.

My husband and enjoyed strolling through the museum. We loved the John Singleton Copley portrait pair!

They have so many different styles of art in their collection that everyone is sure to find something they can appreciate. The contemporary art section is so well done. The special exhibits are extraordinary. I put this museum on par with museums of Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.

We visited for the Hudson River artists but loved the visiting complementary Norwegian landscape collection as well as the JP Morgan collection of miscellaneous treasures and also the pieces by modern notables. Beautiful museum with a nice cafe.

I visited this museum recently with a friend and was quite surprised at the level of quality of the collection considering it is not a high profile facility. Also surprising was the training of the staff. The museum is divided into three connected buildings and there are three floors, so there are some logistical issues that arise, and the staff was the most helpful that I have ever encountered. The Great Hall is just a visual delight. With only one afternoon to tour, I mainly visited the American collection, and found this a great place to begin considering Connecticut's prominent role in our country's beginnings. Their holdings included a fine contemporary art collection as well. The cafe and museum shop are also done well. I was able to attend with a library pass for free, what an incredible value.

Always loved this stately building when I lived in Hartford, CT. So important for every city to have a museum, regardless of its size. Would love to see more art that reflects the art of CT.

The museum is mostly portraits and such. They are all fairly old and not the kind of art museum where you feel like you are seeing multiple different things. It felt very much like the kind of museum I just wanted to get through rather than a place where I wanted to stop and look at some of the art.

This is a delightful museum with wonderful collections. Our main interest was the Hudson River School paintings. The lunch for our group was prearranged and was very disappointing. The main problem, however, was that they assured one of us who has celiac, that his lunch was gluten free and it was NOT. So, beware, they do not know what gluten free means. This could cause serious problems.

I had to visit it for the project that was required in one of my CCSU classes. I took my mom and daughter with me and we all completely enjoyed the visit.

The wadsworth atheneum is an important and wonderful museum experience. The permanent collection of contemporary and historic art is wide and comprehensive. Their holdings of Hudson River art is second only to the simthsonian collection in Washington DC. Well worth a visit.

A friend of mine invited me to visit Wadsworth Atheneum Museum and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go. I had never heard of it, nor did my friend but a coworker of his gave him free ticked. I'm so glad I went because this museum is truly beautiful and well kept. I wish that whoever is in charge of this museum would do more advertisement because not a lot of people know about this please. I was very impressed and I will encourage all my friends and coworkers to visit it at some point.

Hard to believe but they found another Van Gogh in storage in their basement. "Vase with Poppies" has been authenticated in Amsterdam giving the museum a second Van Gogh along with their self portrait. It goes on exhibit in late April.

I have been here twice now and it is a lovely little museum. They have some really nice classical and more modern art and get special exhibits.

I was impressed by this museum! I was not expecting such a good diverse collection! The museum is the right size for a day visit: they have a bit of everything, from baroque to contemporary art - including some amazing examples of american artists (including Sargent and the Hudson River school), impressionists (Degas, Monet, Van Gogh, and others) and surrealists (Dali, Ernst, Magritte). It's the right size to appreciate it all and not be overwhelmed. The staff was very nice and helpful too. We took a free highlights tour and though it was not the best highlights tour I've taken - too much of a high school approach (what do you see, what do you think?), it added a lot to my appreciation of some of the more modern pieces. And the guide was so passionate that it was a pleasure to follow him through the galleries.

They may ot be much of a reason to jump off the highway in Hartford CT these days. Afterall the local ballpark is named after a donut chain. That said, the Athenuem is a great little museum and worth a stop. It is one of the oldest museums in the country - yes, Hartford used to be an affluent and cultured small city once - and it's collection will surprise you.

Beautiful space, great collections and special exhibitions. A hidden gem in downtown Hartford that I think people forget about!

A nice variety of art, the items from the Colt family were really interesting. Not easy to find your way as there are two different buildings. The staff is friendly and very helpful...more in depth descriptions would be helpful.

New Englanders are lucky to have the country's oldest museum located right in Hartford with its impressive collection of art and artifacts. The recent renovation, complete with the stunning grand gallery hall, is gorgeous, and the authenticity of the the grand gallery gives important insight into how art was viewed back in the day.

Had to stop seeing as how this is the oldest art museum in the country. Beautiful building is well organized and not overwhelming. I’m a big fan of early American art and they had a good representation of that period. Throw in a few Picasso’s, some Monet and Van Gogh, and you have a gem of a collection. Parking was challenging since it’s on street only, but worth seeking out.

Wife and I visited thinking it was going to be a small museum and instead were delighted by it. The museum is much larger then you would think and contains artwork and artifacts from Ancient Greek to Modern Art. We spent about 3 hours and it was well worth every minute.

The menu is limited and basic but very high quality. The salads are fresh and everything they serve is well prepared. If you's in the area it is worth a short stop for a healthy meal.

I had long heard about the Wadsworth but never had a chance to visit. Then they collaborated with the Detroit Institute of Arts on the By Her Hand exhibition of Italian women artists, and I was able to watch the curators from both museums talk about the exhibition. So when we were planning this trip, the Wadsworth was high on the list to visit. And we were not disappointed... from our first view of the castle and Tony Smith's Amaryllis sculpture, then the Kusama Pumpkin, into the Morgan's Great Hall gallery...through the Cabinet of Curiosities and the galleries of European and American art. Truly an honor to view one of Monet's Water Lilies and Renoir's Claude Monet Painting in His Garden at Argenteuil. Their collection of Hudson River School works is superb. And there are so many other wonderful works to enjoy throughout the Wadsworth galleries as our 4 hours spent there can attest!

This is a very good, modest sized museum in the heart of Hartford. The collection is varied and good, particularly the 20th century American Art.

I was in Harrford for work and found this place. I was really impressed! It has a great collection of art. I especially liked some of the pieces from the Hudson River School

My husband and I spent time at the museum many times before our dinner reservation in Hartford. Always something new to see.

The are few reasons to visit Hartford (other than family or friends). However, this is worth the trip. Excellent collections, great surroundings and decent cafe.

Great time had by all. Three generations of my family visited together. And I highly recommend checking with your local library as they may have a pass for free or discounted admission.

A must-see or museum when you are in Hartford. The museum has everything from classical art modern American art. Plan no less than 4 to 5 hours. Asked the front desk where the kind of work is that were most interested in. Too much to take in in one day plan a second trip.

We only had a short amount of time, as we were waiting for our flight. I fully appreciated the temperature testing, as well as the social distancing at the door.
The museum was bright and cheery, with works of art from many different periods and modes. The people who worked there were pleasant and helpful.
I enjoyed the fact tht it was not crowded (I don't know if it was Covid, driven, or just a slow day). I appreciated the fact that it was free.

We visited on a rainy day and had a wonderful time. Nice collection of a mix of art. Easy to get to and from. Enjoyed the trip. Great store too!

I have been to many art museums in CT and in NYC.. and love them all.. This one has a strong place in my heart.. It is the one I took my HS students to when (as an new teacher in the 1970's) I found out they had not an "art" experience so near to their own homes (they were east of the CT River) .. I took my own children to it once a month when they were just little (after they were 5 and until they were teenagers)... we would do one floor or one exhibit at a visit...They are now in their 40's and remember our visits with love . The art is easy to view, there are wonderful docents if you need them.. and have fabulous exhibits... My favorite is the Hudson River paintings... If you are visiting Hartford and need to spend a little time reflecting on life - past and present... Do come here... you may not want to leave, or at least you know you have a place to which you can return..

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon at the Wadsworth. Every room seemed to have a "find" and it all was exhibited thoughtfully and effectively. The Cabinet of Art and Curiosity was a special delight. The Museum Shop is excellent. Can't wait for a return visit opportunity.

Just because February is the shortest month of the year doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do at the Wadsworth. From films to gallery dance performances to wonderful exhibits, check out their website to get up to the minute activities.

When I was there, DancEnlight performed a dance that was inspired by the Utamaro and the Lure of Japan exhibit. The choreography was simply wonderful. The Utamaro exhibit is shown through March 26, 2017 and shouldn’t be missed. To see the scroll paintings by Utamaro was stunning. Cherry Blossoms at Yoshiwara is rarely exhibited and I am glad to have had the opportunity to be inspired and see the collection.

Continued much success to Thomas J. Loughman and his team.

All I had to spend was a couple of hours but I could have stayed longer. I really enjoyed the american art (Homer, Wyeth, Sargent, etc...). Easy walk to the museum from the Convention center.

They always have amazing exhibits that they switch out often! It always keeps me coming back! It is very deceiving from the outside because it doesn't look as large as it actually is inside. I also found a work that shows the original museum which was so interesting to see. We spent 3 hours in the museum and we didn't even see everything. This is a great rainy day activity but even if it's not rainy I recommend coming anyways just to see what they have to offer! When we went we saw the Gothic to Goth exhibit which was about the Romantic Era fashion and its influences. There was also information about literature at the time it was very informative. We also saw a contemporary short film called Eager by Allison Shulnik. It made me fall in love with her work! Of course they do have large collections of classic art as well so there is something for everyone.

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, multiple times, most recently on Sunday, December 1st, 2019. This museum, which is definitely worth visiting and highly recommended, has a great mixture of various types of artwork, addressing art from multiple perspectives, including cultural, historical and political, depending upon what is applicable. Our primary focus this time was on the annual “Festival of Trees” exhibit, which was quite exquisite and enjoyable, and the other special exhibits. I addressed these exhibits below. However, we also visited the permanent exhibits. All the art throughout this museum is nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details.

We always enjoy this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as well. We only wish we had more time to see all this museum has to offer, which definitely is quite a bit!!

Our visit to the museum took about an hour and a half, based on the amount of time available to us. However, it could easily have taken more than four hours to really see and absorb all the artwork that was on display. We parked on the street on the side of the Hartford Public Library for this visit. This parking was free on Sunday there, and was a short walk to and from the museum. There was also validated parking for a $3 flat rate for museum visitors at the Front Street South Garage, GPS Address – 62 Front Street Crossing, Hartford. Your local library may have passes for free admission into this museum, except you still will have to pay $3 for the “Festival of Trees” exhibit, which currently is scheduled to end on December 8th..

Special Exhibits:

The “Festival of Trees”, which we have visited over the past several years, was located in multiple galleries on the first floor and was nicely laid out. All the trees and wreaths were decorated quite beautifully. In particular, we were quite impressed with the trees in the Great Hall, which were a nice addition to the artwork in this gallery. We also enjoyed the many pieces built from Legos, which were quite impressive. A lot of hard work definitely went into building these masterpieces made out of Legos. The only drawback about the “Festival of Trees’ exhibit was that there appeared to be less trees and wreathes than in the past.

The special exhibit “Mathematics of Elegance: An Icon of Early Connecticut Furniture’ was quite educational, providing very good historical context and helped us better understand and appreciate cabinetmaking, its associated architecture, and its connection to Mathematics. It was interesting to find out how Ancient Greek and Roman influences in the areas of proportion and geometry guided design in Western art and architecture. Also, how artists and artisans in Colonial America used classical architecture, with emphasis on symmetry, in their designs and in their notions of beauty and harmony was interesting. Greek and Roman systems identified by their column style: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite were nicely depicted in the exhibit. How early cabinetmakers used these systems in proportion with just a compass, straight edge and paper was quite impressive. Will Neptune’s depiction of the alignment between the cabinetmaker Eliphalet Chapin’s design process used in his elegantly proportioned high chest of drawers and the ancient Greek and Roman classical architectural order was very insightful. It illustrates an informative and interesting way to see how art, architecture and mathematics all align.. .

Also, within this exhibit, the background information on the East Windsor-based cabinetmaker Eliphalet Chapin (1741- 1807) and his use of the Rococo Style with delicate, naturalistic ornamentation was quite interesting. His sophisticated understanding of proportion, and use of geometric construction techniques in the designs of his exceptional furniture was quite impressive. Even though the exhibit was relatively small in size, it definitely was a very good learning experience,

The special exhibit ‘Afro cosmologies American Reflection’ was laid out in multiple galleries and was quite unique. Within the exhibit Cosmology is defined as a continuing body of beliefs that incorporates the centrality of nature, ritual and relationships between the human and divine with many influences that shape Contemporary Art. Topics addressed within the exhibit include: Ritual shared worship experiences; affirming new identities, communities and commitment to freedom; and Gods and Humanity depicting our relationship to specific gods, and how our interactions with spirits and ancestors are defining part of daily life. This was definitely a different type of Contemporary Art exhibit and was interesting.

There were also multiple other special exhibits that we only had a short time to walk-through and explore. There were some very interesting artifacts and detailed write-ups describing the artifacts within these exhibits, which were definitely worth seeing. These included ‘The Sport and Leisure: Sailing on the Sound’, ‘Design in the American Home, 1650 to 1850’ and ‘Tradition and the Avant-Garde: Highlights of Ballets Russes Design’ among other exhibits.
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Permanent Exhibits:

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art. The American Art featured a great collection of American Decorative Arts, Colonial America pieces, Hudson River School paintings, Impressionist pieces, the Samuel Colt Collection and the exquisite Goodwin Parlor. The Hudson River School paintings included multiple impressive landscape paintings by world renowned artists who followed the unique Hudson River School approach, which has always been one of our favorites. We also enjoyed the large collection of Baroque Art as well as the other European Art from the French Revolution, Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements and the artwork in the Great Hall presented in salon style. In addition, we like the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects when they are on display. The write-ups about all this artwork were very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural, historical and political impact.

Again, we recommend this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have for a great mixture of various types of artwork.

Small museum with much to see. Very enjoyable Well worth a visit if in the area. An interesting collection of many different art types.

Nicely run museum that covers the gambit of art and culture spanning some 5 thousand years. The museum is spaced out well with easy access to all floors.

What a fabulous museum. A wonderful collection. A perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. The Hudson River School works are especially magnificent to see in person.

Whenever I am in Hartford, I love visiting the first public museum in the U.S. We were in the city when the museum was open (Friday thru Sundays). An extra plus is the museum is offering free admission through the end of January 2021.

Walk-up visitors can be accommodated based on availability but it is recommended you reserve a time on their website. Took the Highlights Tour and the docent did a great job highlighting their various art collections. Do check out their artsy gift shop consisting of books, home goods and stylish items.

We had a day to kill downtown before a series of meetings. The museum is an eclectic variety of Hudson Valley painter, impressionists, objects, and portraits. Very impressive galleries and architecture.

This museum is housed in an interesting building resembling a castle in downtown Hartford . Apparently, it is the first public art museum in the US. Inside, the museum is surprisingly large (around 50,000 pieces). The section I liked the most were the galleries showing paintings from the Hudson River School (3rd floor). There is also a good variety of European and American art. Don't miss the gift shop which has an eclectic selection at reasonable prices. Here is a tip - the museum has free entry from 4-5 pm on Wednesday through Sunday. So, arrive around 3:30 pm and spend a while in the gift shop then view the museum during the final hour of opening. That's what I did, and found that it was possible to see a good part of the museum in an hour (but certainly not all). Staff here is very pleasant and helpful. Highly recommended.

This is a great museum with a lot of history of its own and a wonderful art collection. But, the museum also does tours, lectures, musical events, holiday events, and shows some great current movies. The restaurant at the cafe is excellent and well worth a visit. I am a museum member and truly enjoy this museum.

What a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit! The magnificent museum is the perfect showcase for hundreds of Christmas trees and wreaths all hand made by individuals, children,companies and senior citizens. Anyone can enter and each tree has a theme. It is a magical tour of the most original, artistic , imaginative trees and wreaths you will ever see. Put this on your must do list for the first week of December .. you won’t regret it!

A great place for art lovers and those interested in Hartford history. Wonderful exhibits and events.

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, multiple times, most recently on Sunday, December 6th, 2020.. This museum, which is definitely worth visiting and highly recommended, has a great mixture of various types of artwork, addressing art from multiple perspectives, including cultural, historical and political, depending upon what is applicable. Our primary focus this time was on the multiple special exhibits, especially, ‘Made in Connecticut: Celebrating 25 Years of the CT Art Trail’ and ‘Savor: A Revolution in Food Culture’. We also enjoyed the permanent collection, in particular, the Hudson River School/Landscape paintings, which are all very beautiful. All the art throughout this museum is nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details.

We always enjoy this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as well. We only wish we had more time to see all this museum has to offer, which definitely is quite a bit!! We thank the museum for offering free admission at this point in time. It is definitely a great value.

Our visit to the museum took about an hour, based on the amount of time available to us. However, it could easily have taken more than four hours to really see and absorb all the artwork that was on display. We parked on the street on the side of the Hartford Public Library for this visit. This parking was free on Sunday there, and was a short walk to and from the museum. There was also validated parking for a $3 flat rate for museum visitors with ticket validation based on the museum’s website, which is the Preferred Parking, located at the Connecticut Convention Center Garage. 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford CT, 06109. The website provides direction to this parking.

The only issue we had with our visit to the museum was that it was not easy to navigate from gallery to galley, based on how the museum is laid out and how the traffic flow is being controlled due to COVID-19. You feel like you are going in circles and you have to go up and down from the same floor multiple times to get to different galleries on it. It is definitely more walking than expected.

Special Exhibits:

‘Made in Connecticut: Celebrating 25 Years of the CT Art Trail’:

This exhibit is a very nice tribute to Connecticut Artists, showcasing the diversity of Connecticut’s arts ecosystem. The twenty-two institutions that make up the Connecticut Art Trail represent the state’s shared cultural heritage and the objects in the exhibit reflect a spirit of ingenuity, from art-making to manufacturing. The items on display all have very informative write-ups that indicate which institution each items is from, and provide good historical context. The exhibit is well done with a nice mixture of items on display that represent “Yankee Ingenuity”, emphasizing the home-made, hand-made and creative problem-solving that is shown in the works of many artist-innovators who have lived and worked in Connecticut.

‘Savor: A Revolution in Food Culture’:

This exhibit nicely illustrates the radical changes that occurred in France in the 1650’s that had an impact across Europe and continue to influence what we eat, how we cook and how we dine. The exhibit depicts the story of the transformation that occurred in France and England, is well done and educational with much historical background information. The items on display are quite exquisite and the subject matter of the exhibit is definitely very interesting.. . .

The exhibit is very comprehensive and is broken down into multiple interesting topics, each providing good contextual information, some of which are mentioned below.

‘The Market, the Farm and The Hunt’ shows the impact on food culture and prosperity during the the 1600s and 1700s with the rapid increase in maritime trade and colonial expansion, and Agrarian reform with technological advances.

‘The Devastating Consequences of Sugar’ reflects on the impact sugar and other lucrative products had on colonization, including the catastrophic human consequences of slavery.

‘The Kitchen’ shows the transformations in the kitchen garden, on the farm and in the marketplace that provided a greater selection of ingredients to create dishes. This coupled with technical advances in the kitchen, enabled more sophisticated culinary techniques in the 1600s and 1700s resulting in the birth of modern French cuisine, which dominated cooking all across Europe.

‘The Pantry’ shows how food, cooking, and the philosophy of eating was transformed in the 1700s, which had a cumulative impact on the way people ate, resulting in dramatic developments in the arts of the table, which continue to influence the way we eat today. This resulted in new dining and drinking habits and the development of new vessels for foods during the 1700s, which are still used today, making eating more elegant and more complicated.

Other topics that were illustrated included carving a turkey, meals by candlelight, food for lovers, the timing of meals and the ‘New Informality’ of the 1700s, showing how dining habits have changed. We loved the fan on display illustrating the ‘New Informality of the 1700s’ with a meal painted on it showing the relaxed atmosphere and manners of informal dining in the 1700s. This was quite different than the formality of court protocol with the informality emphasizing conversation, lighthearted flirtation, music, delicious food, fine wine along with beautiful tableware. This was quite nice and I am glad that dining has gotten more informal and continues in that direction!!

‘Ali Banisadr/MATRIX 185’:

This is a very unique exhibit with paintings and prints representing ‘intangible worlds of order and disorder, energy and entropy’ The artist uses an interesting process relating to synesthesia, a state in which one sense triggers another, such as seeing a sound or hearing color, resulting in some interesting artwork displayed in this exhibit. The artist’s experience of the Iran-Iraq War (1980 -1988) during his childhood and his interests in world cultures, art history and current events is definitely reflected in this artwork. This exhibit is both interesting, unique, and thought provoking but not really our type of art.

‘A Love of Wood: Chaim Gross’s I Love My Baby’:

We asked about where this exhibit was when we entered the museum, but they said it no longer was on view. However, the date appears to go from November 20, 2020 thru March 21, 2021. So it may be still there until March. .

On-Going Exhibits:

‘Design in the American Home, 1650 to 1850’:

We have seen this exhibit multiple times in the past and have always enjoyed it. On display is beautiful well restored/preserved furniture, always worth seeing. The exhibit is like a walk back through time. The write-ups provide great historical context and are quite educational.

‘Protest and Promise’:

This exhibit is interesting and unique and uses art as a form of activism, criticism, and empowerment. The artwork on display is intended to confront longstanding injustices and social disparities with a goal to achieve systemic transformations and a more hopeful future. This exhibit is thought provoking, addressing very relevant topics in today’s environment, but is not really our type of art.
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Permanent Exhibits:

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits on European and American Art. Due to lack of time, our primary focus this time was the very exquisite Hudson River School landscape paintings. The Hudson River School paintings include multiple impressive landscape paintings by world-renowned artists who followed the unique Hudson River School approach, which has always been one of our favorites. Based on our past experiences visiting the museum, the American Art also featured a great collection of American Decorative Arts, Colonial America pieces, Impressionist pieces, the Samuel Colt Collection and the exquisite Goodwin Parlor. We also have enjoyed the large collection of Baroque Art as well as the other European Art from the French Revolution, Neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements and the artwork in the Great Hall presented in salon style. In addition, we have admired the early Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Art Objects when they are on display. The write-ups about all this artwork were very detailed and informative, including information on their time period and cultural, historical and political impact.

Again, we recommend this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have for a great mixture of various types of artwork.

Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Turner, Dali, Picasso, Warhol, Pollack, Hopper, an amazing Caravaggio (wow!), on and on. It's an unassuming building on a corner downtown, this place is loaded with world class fine art. I'm the "art lover" in the family but everyone enjoyed it.

My husband and I took a quick stroll through the museum recently. I have been to the wadsworth many times but not since all of the galleries had reopened. The museum looks beautiful and the collections are outstanding. It is worth a visit.

Everything is beautifully spaced and displayed. World class art and collectibles.
It has many large rooms. It is vast and goes on forever.

Located in downtown Hartford- we actually found free street parking on a Sunday afternoon.
The museum is spread over 3 floors and covers a wide spectrum of art history.
We loved the large 2 story room that had dozens of paintings hung salon style.Very unique.
Also loved a Hartley portrait and a great Picasso painting.
The cafe in1st floor is a nice room and the food was quite good-!a great place to have lunch and take a break

I very much enjoyed visiting the Wadsworth. During these strange COVID times, they waived admission, and that alone made the visit worthwhile. The collection is strong in American and European works, not particularly strong in non-Western art, although there are Chinese and Egyptian works (and I don't mean to criticize the collection, only to inform).

This museum is one of my favorites in CT. It is large and spread out, and the installations are always interesting and well put together, I highly recommend a rainy day visit.

truly enjoyed the collection. Miro, Picasso, Monet. Plus interesting contemporary survey of African-American art.

I was a member of the Wadsworth Atheneum for a number of years. I especially enjoyed their First Thursday get togethers. Various members of the Greater Hartford art community gathered for drinks, food, music, and the art. I'm not sure why, but the First Thursdays were dropped and now they have occasional theme oriented happenings. The Museum is a treasure that's for sure I'm just not happy about some of the decision-making and how it affects members. I'm not a member anymore but I still, occasionally, go to celebrate a specific event.

The Atheneum occupies a hodgepodge of buildings and is not especially prepossessing from the exterior. This also makes for a confusing layout inside at times (use the floor plan!), but the collection is outstanding. I really appreciated the fact that the fellow who sold us our tickets took a few minutes to explain the highlights and mark where all the special exhibits were located. The collection is especially strong in American and European art, with a remarkably expansive amount of porcelain, furniture, and other tchotchkes on display along with the paintings and sculptures. I was impressed that while the museum might only have one or two canvasses by an artist, they were invariably good ones. And there are some truly wonderful, idiosyncratic displays, like the over-the-top cabinet of curiosities and the rainbow hued Sol LeWitt painting inserted into a formal 19th century hall and staircase. Just lovely. The museum cafe is closed for renovations at the moment, so plan accordingly. Also, be aware that there are free lockers available for your bags.

Dali and Picasso and Van Gogh and ancient Egyptian and Calder and Norman Rockwell and Georgia O'Keefe and so many others all in the same building! Truly a fantastic representation of the world of art. We go at least once a year.

We visited specifically for the Frederick Church exhibit which was available at the time. Frederick Church was a Hartford born painter of the Hudson River school and probably the best business savvy of all of them. This exhibit showed painting primarily from his travels to the mid east. this trip influenced his designs for Olana, the marvelous home he built on the Hudson River. If you are in Hartford, a visit to the Atheneum is a must.

This Museum opens at 12 Thursday-Sunday. We had to wait a bit & had a bite from the Rolling Roti food truck featuring Guyanese cuisine out front. Eggplant & potato wrapped in a roti was delish! The museum was gorgeous inside Wadsworth gothic revival building in 1844, which has been added at great expense-but worth it! The rooms are filled with art, china, pottery, textiles, contemporary art, Impressionist, Barogue, furniture & more! The staff or volunteers were helpful & watchful for any questions. The collection continued to surprise as we strolled through the rooms. Overlooking the painting gallery from the 2nd floor was more than an eyeful! The Cafe had refreshments, indoor/outdoor space complimented the total "atheneum" experience.

It is always a pleasure to visit the Wadsworth Athenaeum which is among America's oldest museums. There is great strength in American art from Colonial times through the ultra contemporary.

An art museum with an amazing collection. Always a joy to visit and see the originals of famous artists.

Awesome place lots of history. Family friendly, affordable free to city residents. Flexible hours to visitors

The Wadsworth Atheneum is best known for its European, American and contemporary art exhibits, but they also have some lovely Asian, Egyptian, Roman and Greek pieces too.

Fabulous experience. We bought tickets because we wanted to see the "By My Hand" exhibit of Italian female artists from 1500 to 1800. We also took advantage of the daily Highlights Tour. It was just fabulous. Ernesto, the docent who guided us through, was phenomenal in that he brought us chronologically from thousands of years ago to current era and explained periods of art by examining various works. It was such an informative experience - I really want to go back (even though it's more than a two hour ride each way). The museum itself is lovely - architecture is interesting, collections are excellent, and I was surprised to learn that this museum is the oldest public art museum in the United States. This is a must see if you are in the Northeast.

Nice building. Location is inconvenient. Unfortunately I kept comparing it to the MFA in Boston. It didn't hold up. I've heard so much about it so I'm glad I finally went

Still great, with a new director injecting vigor into the collection,mand exciting new exhibitions. I have been coming here since I was a child, and had not visited in many years. It was a pleasant surprise!

The art in bloom exhibit was fantastic! The art and floral installations were beautifully coordinated.

What a Connecticut treasure the Wadsworth Atheneum has become! It's fresh and exciting, representative of people from all walks of life. From Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin sculpture to an absolutely fascinating Frederick Douglas exhibit, the Atheneum, the Wadsworth grabs your attention, whether young or old. We recently took 30+ college-age students to visit, and I kid you not, they did NOT want to leave when the bus arrived. My group's guide was Anne Butler Rice and she was PHENOMENAL! Her ability to engage with our students, excite them, and encourage them to ask questions was a work of art in itself. I was and am still in awe of her. The museum staff is inviting and helpful and will make your experience there one to remember. I absolutely encourage you to visit. It's so much fun.

This museum was a great jewel as far as art museums go ! Lots of wonderful and varied exhibits - a very dynamic collection with some "big name' painters' works also. Museum seemed to keep going and going....an exceptional art museum ! Toured with my family - mostly young adults - and everyone loved it. Am not sure about the hours of the cafe (or its prices) in the museum but the smell was wonderful in that area... make a plan or use a map to avoid backtracking...I highly recommend this museum !

This was my first visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum in about 20 years. While the collection was impressive the last time I was there, I felt that it was not displayed to its best advantage. How everything has changed! The museum has been subjected to a thoroughly transformative renovation, which has brought light and colour into once dreary spaces. I spent several hours walking through the various rooms, re-engaging with various objects that now sparkled in their new environment. The highlights for me were the Great Hall and the Cabinet of Curiosities (what an ingenious idea to display paintings, objects and furniture in this historical context). Full marks to the Wadsworth; it has now retaken its place as one of the world's great art collections.

To describe financier J. Pierpont Morgan, a native of Hartford, Connecticut, as a passionate collector is an understatement. In the last 23 years of his life, he amassed 20,000 works of art - everything from rare books, manuscripts, prints, drawings, paintings and sculpture to decorative arts. The Wadsworth Atheneum received a gift of over 1350 of these items in 1917 from his estate. In celebration of the 100th anniversary of this bequest, the present show, "Morgan: Mind of the Collector," features over 100 of these treasures, some on loan from other institutions.

The scope of his collection is astonishing - there are so many exquisitely beautiful and unusual objects to see. They include: the Morgan Cup - a rare example of Roman glass; the Great Ruby Watch embellished with 85 rubies; a Rembrandt self-portrait and a gilded reliquary said to contain a tooth of Mary Magdalene.

The permanent collection of the Wadsworth is also noteworthy and I stopped by to see two of my favorite paintings - Sebastiano del Piombo's "Portrait of a Man in Armor" and Artemisia Gentileschi's "Self-Portrait as a Lute Player" before leaving. I recommend taking the Museum's docent-led tours when you visit.

I love art and returned from the museum satisfied after 4 hours of absolute splendor. Definitely a must when on Hartford.
Only 1 tiny issue:
On the 2nd floor I was the only visitor and did not enjoy the "company" of the female security guard breathing down my neck. All other guards were very helpfull or at least tried not to interfere with the experience.

This is a one of a kind, beautiful art museum and I highly recommend a visit to anyone traveling to Hartford. I love visiting with my kids ages 12 - 5. They have child friendly hands on exhibits, so don't be afraid to visit with young children.

My husband and I have visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut, multiple times, most recently on Sunday, April 18th, 2021. This museum, which is definitely worth visiting, is highly recommended and a great value, being free at the time of our visit and I believe will be free until sometime in July, based on what I read in the newspaper.

The way this write-up is structured is that I first provide ‘General Information About Our Visit’ including Some Minor Issues. Then I talk about the Special Exhibits and then the Permanent Collection, in particular, the parts of the Permanent Collection that we enjoy the most.

General Information About Our Visit Including Some Minor Issues:

The museum has a great mixture of various types of artwork, addressing art from multiple perspectives, including cultural, historical and political, depending upon what is applicable. Our primary focus this time was on the multiple special exhibits, especially, ‘Paul Manship: Ancient Made Modern’. We also enjoyed the permanent collection, in particular, the Hudson River School/Landscape paintings, which are all very beautiful, as well as the other paintings/artwork that I mention later in this write-up. All the art throughout this museum is nicely curated with very good write-ups providing excellent supporting background information with great details, including time period of the artwork and cultural, historical and political impact. .

We always enjoy this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as well. We only wish we had more time to see all this museum has to offer, which definitely is quite a bit!! We thank the museum for offering free admission at this point in time. It is definitely a great value. However, we can’t wait until when the museum starts to be open for more days a week and not just for their reduced hours. In addition, we would like more flexibility in terms of the time we arrive at the museum, than with needing to have timed tickets.

Our visit to the museum took about an hour and a half, based on the amount of time available to us. However, it could easily have taken more than four hours to really see and absorb all the artwork that was on display. We parked on the street on the side of the Hartford Public Library for this visit. This parking was free on Sunday there, and was a short walk to and from the museum. There was also validated parking for a $3 flat rate for museum visitors with ticket validation based on the museum’s website, which is the Preferred Parking, located at the Connecticut Convention Center Garage. 100 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford CT, 06109. The website provides directions to this parking.

Some Minor Issues:

Although the museum provides a good map, we often go to the museum to view the Special Exhibits, but they are usually hard to find due to the way the museum is laid out. So I bring a list of the exhibits with me to the museum and ask for directions to each Special Exhibit as we enter the museum. However, it would be helpful for the museum to provide a list of the Special Exhibits as you enter the museum along with the directions to each. That way you won’t miss any of the current Special Exhibits and you will know where they are located.

The other thing that we have experienced is that it was not easy to navigate from gallery to galley, based on how the museum is laid out and how the traffic flow is being controlled due to COVID-19. You feel like you are going in circles and you have to go up and down from the same floor multiple times to get to different galleries on it. It is definitely more walking than expected or even necessary.

Special Exhibits:

‘Paul Manship: Ancient Made Modern’’:

This exhibit is well done and is located on the third floor, 3R of the Avery Building, based on my notes. It is nicely laid out with a lot of space between the various pieces on display. Paul Manship’s approach to his artwork is interesting, unique, and nicely depicted throughout the exhibit where he modernized mythology by introducing a distant sense of motion to his sculpture and emphasizing surface detail. He blended styles from diverse places and time periods into a ‘mixed style”. He melded antiquity with modernism with his classical and ancient sources giving an allure of antiquity in the modern urban life experience, in particular in New York, where he provided cultural inspiration through his famous pieces of artwork in Rockefeller Center and the Bronx Zoo. .

He blended iconography from multiple sources adding complexity to their meaning and storylines using different sources both distant and immediate. Native American Imagery reflected on the complicated representation of Indigenous people at the turn of the 20th century by non-Native artists. His imagery of ‘Indian and Pronghorn Antelope’, depicts the mythical idea prevalent in American visual culture, but also challenges it by referencing other cultures, blending native imagery with visuals from Greek and Egyptian sources. This definitely was an interesting approach!!

The ‘Discovery, Change, and Innovation: Major Events in Manship’s Era’ provided an interesting timeline and good context. We recommend this exhibit, including reading the write-ups that provide good background information.

‘Todd Gray/MATRIX 185’:

This is a very unique exhibit, located on the first floor off of Avery Court. It addresses the enduring impact of European colonialism, slavery and the American diaspora through photography using imagery of African people and landscapes with European imperial gardens and monuments and constellation images taken with the Hubble Telescope. The concept of the exhibit, which uses a collage of photographs to take us on a complex journey across time and space about history, identity and politics through Africa, Europe and the cosmos, is definitely thought-provoking, interesting and unique, but not really our type of art. We definitely had to read the write-up about this exhibit to understand what it represents.

‘The Dance on the Volcano: German Expressionism at the Wadsworth Atheneum’:

This exhibit is located off of the Great Hall on the first floor of the Morgan Building near the Antiquity to the Renaissance Section of the museum. It depicts a timeframe of daring themes in art, using strong colors, flattened forms and distorted perspectives, artwork tied to Expressionism. Although this exhibit was relatively small it was interesting from the perspective of its historical significance, including Georg Tappert’s Geisha-Revue , which memorializes the feverish artist life in Berlin, Germany on the brink of World War I. .

‘A Love of Wood: Chaim Gross’s I Love My Baby’:

This was the last day for this exhibit which was small with a very unique wood-carving. It had interesting write-ups providing good context to what was on display.

On-Going Exhibits:

‘Design in the American Home, 1650 to 1850’:

This exhibit is located on the first floor off of Avery Court. We have seen this exhibit multiple times in the past and have always enjoyed it. On display is beautiful well restored/preserved furniture, always worth seeing. The exhibit is like a walk back through time. The write-ups provide great historical context and are quite educational.

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Permanent Collection – The Parts We Enjoy the Most:

During our visit, as we have done in the past, we also enjoyed the permanent exhibits. The European and American paintings displayed in Salon Style in the Great Hall on the first floor of the Morgan Building, off of Avery Court, are beautiful and always nice to see. Also, off the Great Hall, is the Antiquity to the Renaissance Section of the museum, which includes: East Asian Antiquities, Egyptian, Greek and Roman artwork and, Medieval and Renaissance Europe artwork. The artwork in this section is nicely laid out, quite interesting, and very nicely preserved, being very impressive with historical significance. The write-ups within these exhibits are very educational and make you feel like you are taking a nice walk back through ancient time. These write-ups include: ‘Arts of China: the Qing Dynasty’; ‘Renaissance Art’; ‘Medieval Art’; ‘Early Christian and Byzantine Art’; ‘Living in the Ancient World’; and ‘Greek Colonization and Trade’. Before we leave the first floor of the Morgan Building we also like to take a look into the Victorian ‘Goodwin Parlor’, which is beautifully furnished.

We always enjoy seeing the very exquisite Hudson River School landscape paintings located on Level 3 of the Avery Building in the American Art Section of the museum which has pieces from the time period of 1700s – 1950. The Hudson River School paintings include multiple impressive landscape paintings by world-renowned artists who followed the unique Hudson River School approach, which has always been one of our favorites. Also in this section of American Art is Early American and Late 19th Century Art and Design, which we enjoy.

The second floor of the Avery Building includes the impressive Samuel Colt Collection as well as the Wetmore Parlor in the American Decorative Arts Section of the Museum, which has pieces from the 1600s – 1865. The second Floor of the Morgan Building includes European Art including the interesting and unique Cabinet of Art and Curiosity as well as the large collection of Baroque Art from multiple time periods and art tied to the French Revolution and Neoclassical, Romanticism, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. .

Again, we recommend this museum and hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as we have for a great mixture of various types of artwork.
 

Had not been to Museum since CoVid times but was, when in Hartford or area, a stop in for some calm and serenity. Was pleasantly surprised it was open, the snack bar and patio were open (EXCELLENT chicken salad sandwich and fries and a good coffee) and polite service - we ate outside as it was summer like in November! The collections are always excellent be it permanent or on loan. The museum never disappoints. Bathrooms needed a touch of attention - could have been a one off. Lovely gift shop.

This is undoubtedly the best and most overlooked art museum in the area. It is easily accessible from anywhere down town on the Free Bus that travels every 20 minutes. Look for the orange bus stop signs. Give yourself plenty of time say two days to see it all.

Interesting museum, with some great pieces. Great place for a rainy afternoon. Staff was helpful. Download the app that has comments on many of the works.

This museum is wonderful and I highly recommend it! Parking on the street was easy when we visited in December 2018. We rented the audioguide for a reasonable price. It was nice to hear additional information about select artworks and a nice break from reading the artwork descriptions. After a few hours, we took a break in their cafe and enjoyed a great lunch, coffee, and dessert. There's even a cute gift shop. We will visit again.

Beautiful building and decent permanent collection.. some interesting temporary exhibits. Good activities including films and tours. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Free for Hartford residents.

My boyfriend and I went during free admission hour (4-5 pm, not sure if that's everyday), and we wish we would've gone earlier! It's a lovely and relaxing art museum, with a lot of different styles to look at. They even had Monet, which I thought was fairly impressive. Great for a rainy, cold day activity!

The Wadsworth Athenuem is deceptively large. The building houses many different masterpieces located throughout the facility. It's intriguing in it's layout. The artwork is an amazing collection of the eclectic to the classic. My wife and enjoyed the time there.

I did not know what to expect of this art museum. It was wonderful. They had many pieces from famous artists that my teen even knew who they were. I was very impressed with the collection and the size of it.

Art lovers from many parts of the world make a special effort to see this museum, because of its great collection and interesting special Exhibits. The galleries, recently renovated, are a pleasure to go through, and especially on week days the visitor doesn’t have to suffer the crowded environment that now typifies places like MOMA in NYC. Wed thru Sun 4-5pm entrance is free, and a few months back the museum also provided free entrance to Hartford residents, so as to encourage local community involvement. The museum is also now beginning to benefit from the opening of a new UCONN Urban Campus immediately across the street, and the lively “Front Street” development (restaurants, movie house...) just a block away. Other reviews here tell you about some of the museum’ s best known permanent collections (e.g. it’s American Hudson School paintings, the Wallace Nutting collection of American Furniture, etc. ) so i will in this space mention 2 current Special Exhibits (there through the end of the year) which will give an idea of the caliber of the place: (1) Morgan: mind of the Collector and (2) Sublime North: Romantic Painters discover Norway. J.P Morgan was a major Museum benefactor (one whole wing, the Morgan Wing, was donated by him) and this exhibit brings together a selection of pieces from Morgan’s own art collection, drawing items from the Wadsworth, the Met in NY, and the Morgan Library, all of which can now be seen together in one place. Finally, let me conclude with the practical. You can take either the train or bus to Hartford, but if you come by car, park in one of the Front Street garages, and the have the Pkg. Ticket stamped at the museum. It is only $3.00 that way, and it saves you looking in vain for a place to park on the Street.

The building is amazing, the collection is fascinating and the staff are very helpful. There are some classic paintings on display that you would expect in the MET, Louver or British Museum.

I visited the Wadsworth taking advantage of the "Happy Hour" 4-5 p.m. free admission. This is one place not to be missed if you are visiting the Hartford area. The staff was very helpful in giving information about the exhibits, and I only wish I had had more time to explore this gem.

As with most small city art museums, the collection was the gift of a local benefactor. In this case, the wealthy from the insurance industry. The collection, while small is excellent, and worth your time, if you are in Hartford. In our case, we had been to Hartford before, and while in the area, came back, just to see this fine museum

JP Morgan's father got his start in Hartford, and JP never forgot. His donations form the core of this fine museum and its diverse collections. Unusually rich, and reachable from NYC. This and the Yale museums are a must for inquiring minds visiting New England.

Wadsworth is in the heart of Hartford and well worth the visit. A small-midsized art museum it is manageable to see the entire museum (depending on how intensely you want to study the art). My kids visited this museum in 4th grade as well and absolutely loved it. As teens they request to go visit again! That says a lot to me about the variety of art, and welcoming environment. I would highly recommend a visit alone (lots of room for solitude here) or with kids.

My husband and I went during a warm day and toured the museum. It was beautiful and the staff are so knowledgeable!

This museum has a lot of different art styles and they're all pretty interesting. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys any type of art.

Beautiful museum with lots of perks-First Thursday, Festival of trees are my favorites. Helpful staff and interesting exhibits. You can't go wrong visiting this gem. Only issue is parking.

This museum is easy to navigate and and staff is knowledgeable and friendly. There are several place to sit and contemplate the works.

After renovation, they brought up (literally) so many new things. We especially love paintings in the left wing. They also gave some "modern" arts, which we are not really fond of. The classical paintings and sculptures are good.

The first reason to visit is that this is the first public art museum in the US, operating since 1844.
The second reason is the building of the museum, which is nice both from outside and from inside.
The third reason is the collection - nice pieces of American and European art, a nice collection of china ad much more.
The fourth, and for me probably the most important reason, is that the museum is simply very cosy and friendly. It just felt good to be there, so good that I visited it twice during my 2-day stay in Hartford. And during my second visit, I got a "welcome back" greeting from the nice lady working at the ticket desk which was really appreciated.
If back to Hartford, I would definitely go there again and I highly recommend this museum to other persons visiting the capital of Connecticut.

Life long Hartford resident, use to visit a lot during my elementary school days but paid a visit during the Utamaro event in which exhibited two of Kitagawa Utamaro's famous paintings.

Although small in comparison to other national museums, it has an interesting collection and tries to bring other international exhibits. I recommend this venue for those visiting the state capital or a great place to stop by if you find yourself near front street or by city hall.

My wife and I made the trek down to Hartford from Massachusetts, and we were completely in awe of the Wadsworth Atheneum and its collection. I particularly enjoyed the care with which the curators described the works, eschewing "art-speak" and esoteric language. The Wadsworth ranks right up there with Boston's MFA and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

great experience and should not be missed. Movies, pop corn and an enjoyable evening that is offered one a year. watch for it!

We were in Hartford for the weekend and decided to stop into the museum ... WOW ! It was so much nicer than expected with a great collection. We also had lunch in the cafe which was terrific .... linen napkins & real silverware plus fresh, well-prepared meals for a reasonable price. One of the best museum cafes we've found. Definitely find a few hours to visit this gem in downtown Hartford if you're in the area.

The museum is a feast for the eyes with modern art, antiques, sculptures, ceramic and it goes on! I found art by Dali, Monet, Renoir. It has a little bit of "everything". It's full of color and has a beautiful picture gallery. Frederic Church's exhibition is outstanding. It will be there till the 26th of August.

I hope Hartford residents are taking advantage of this experience that's free for them. The entry is $20. There's a day or afternoon that's free, also. Check their website.

They don't have parking, but you can park in the street or in paid parking nearby. There's a shuttle in Downtown Hartford called DASH that's free and it can leave you at the museum.

I really enjoyed this. I didn't expect this banquet! What a treat!

Let me add my voice to those who have called this one of the very best museums in the US! The artwork exhibited is varied and sure to please a traditionalist like myself or a fan of contemporary works as well. The one-hour tour is a must-do! If every docent is as knowledgeable as the one who led our tour you'll be in for a treat! The museum is just the right size- lots of variety but not overwhelming. And a final cherry on top- the museum cafe is actually a lovely restaurant-quality space with a sharp, sophisticated menu.

It's interesting how they can get such a varied selection of art into such a what looks like small space! Lots to see!

On our recent first visit to the Wadsworth Atheneum we discovered a hidden gem in Hartford, CT. It was a wonderful experience as an art museum filled with a variety of works, mostly paintings, to satisfy a wide range of artistic tastes for all, including families. And, speaking of tastes, it has a nice cafe called BMUSE which did offer vegetarian selections that we had for lunch. The Wadsworth Atheneum was a great place to spend a hot August Saturday afternoon.

We go to art museums like others go to sports events or movies. This one far exceeded my expectations no matter how much my husband raved about it. Actually you could spend far more than 1 or 2 hours here, but our feet just gave out. Plus, we wanted to also see the Butler-McCook house just two blocks down the street and we needed lunch which we found just down the street one block. We will definitely be back for another visit.

The gallery is beautiful, it has a wonderful museum store. I loved meandering through the museum. The building itself is fantastic and there's a wide variety of art. Some of it is even like... a room you walk into that is specifically to showcase the art. It was fantastic and I see a lot of art museums!

Wow is all I can say, If you love art you must come. Warhol, Van Gogh, Homer, Pollack, Frank Lloyd Wright, Degas, Whistler, Munch, Monet, Castle and so much more. Do not miss this one.

An art lovers delight and a wonderful oasis in downtown Hartford . A nice lunch in the cafe also. Will definitely return. Only problem is the parking . We street parked but the meters are 2 hour max . Had to run out twice but it was worth continuing our museum visit 👍

This is a wonderful museum. Diverse collection of masters and contemporary. Nice flow. Plenty of parking. Only complaint is the map they give for the rooms contains room numbers but once you get into the museum, the rooms are not numbered. So if you're looking for a particular collection, it's difficult to get oriented.

We spent three hours here one afternoon and didn't see everything. I suggest that you plan your visit to start with the areas of greatest interest to you, and work your way through the rest of the museum as your time permits.

I made a bit of a mistake by starting with the modern art exhibits on the first floor, near the entrance. While there are occasional pieces that I like, modern art doesn't appeal to me all that much; it is just a personal taste kind of thing. I wasn't wowed by the modern art here (though I did like the Dali), and should have started on the third floor and left this for last.

The first floor also has a "great hall" displaying large paintings in a gallery that extends up through the second floor. I know that this style of display is used in other museums but I did not like looking upward at the paintings hung far above my head. The light from above also created glare of the smooth oil surfaces of some works, making them even harder to view. You can see these works from the balcony on the second floor, but you can't look at them straight on.

The third floor has some very nice pieces by Hudson River School masters Cole, Church and others. Sprinkled through the second and third floors are works by O'Keeffe, Renoir, Monet and other famous artists, plus some nice items by people that art experts would recognize but non-experts like me might not. There are sculptures, woodwork, ceramics, and other types of art in addition to the paintings.

On the second floor, there is an area called the Amistad Center for Art and Culture. It was completely empty when we visited, making us wonder what used to be there or will be there in the future. There were no signs to explain it.

I wouldn't say that this museum is in the same top echelon with the very best art museums in this country, but it's still quite good and if you like art, you'll enjoy a visit.

As for anything in downtown Hartford, parking is a nuisance but check the museum website for info on parking and you'll find it shouldn't deter you.

So much to see... Wonderful selection of art and artefacts, including a Caravaggio. Lots of European art. Well worth a visit. Friendly and helpful staff.