The New Britain Museum of American Art (“NBMAA”) is a medium-size museum with a strong collection focusing on art created in the United States or by American artists. Indeed, it was the first museum to focus on American art.


The NBMAA began as part of the New Britain Institute, a educational and cultural organization founded in 1853. In 1903, John Butler Talcott donated $20,000 to the institute for the purchase of modern, oil paintings. After consulting with various art authorities, the Institute decided that the most cost effective way to use this donnation was to focus on the purchase of American art. This has been NBMMA's focus ever since. Independent of the Institute since 1994, NBMAA now has some 8.400 works in its collection.


Inasmuch as Connecticut was the site of several artist colonies in the late 19th century, it is not surprising that the NBMMA's collection is particularly strong in American Impressionist works including works by Childe Hassam, Theodore Robinson, John Henry Twachtman and J. Alden Weir. However, the collection is also strong in Colonial portraits (Copley, Stuart); the Hudson River School (Cole, Durand); and Post Civil War art (Eakins, Homer, Sargent). It also has important works from the 20th century including Thomas Hart Benton's mural series “The Arts of Life in America,” 20th century abstract works as well as extensive collection of illustrations. In short, while some periods are represented in greater depth than others, NBMAA's collection is a survey that tells the story of American art.


While the gallery of American Impressionist works did not disappoint, we spent more time in the neighboring gallery of late 19th century works by the likes of Whistler, Homer, Chase and Beaux. In particular, John Singer Sargent's portrait of the young “Miss Caro Black” demonstrated the artist's skill in capturing the complexities of children. Other surprises in the collection include a New York City landscape by Georgia O'Keefe and a small representational work by Jackson Pollock done in the style of Thomas Hart Benton.


The collection, along with temporary visiting exhibitions, is displayed in a modern building with good lighting, both in the galleries with natural light and those with artifical light. There was no glare to hamper viewing the art. Also, even though our visit was on a Saturday, the galleries were uncrowded, which allowed us to take our time. It is not a partcularly large building and is easy to navigate. Exploring the galleries was a pleasurable experience.


For more information on visiting, see NBMAA's website.

Places to see art ​ - New Britain Museum of American Art (NBMAA) - New Britain, Connecticut