Collections
Discover new worlds and find yourself in eight millennia of art through the Worcester Art Museum’s collection.
The collection comprises nearly 40,000 works of art from around the world. From ancient mosaics and medieval suits of armor to iconic works of impressionism and abstract expressionism, there are countless stories to discover.
The Museum is internationally known for its collections of Japanese woodblock prints, ancient art, and American and European paintings. It has the second-largest collection of arms and armor in the United States and was among the first to assemble a photography collection and to acquire paintings by such artists as Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin. The Museum’s collection is continually growing and offers a global view of art and culture.
European Art
European art at the Worcester Art Museum accounts for over 3,500 objects, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and textiles.
The collection holds outstanding examples of paintings from throughout Europe, including recognizable names like El Greco, Francisco Goya, Thomas Gainsborough, and Frans Hals, among others. It is further distinguished by rare works by Italian painters Piero di Cosimo and Giovanni Moroni, as well as a 16th-century panel from the School of Fontainebleau.
The Museum was among the first in the United States to acquire works by several influential 19th-century artists including Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, and Odilon Redon.
Many of these works were acquired shortly after their completion, proving the Museum to be ahead of its time in collecting practices during the 20th century.
From a 12th-century Medieval Chapter House to a rare work attributed to a young Leonardo da Vinci, the objects in this collection together encompass the complex histories of Europe.