Specialty Collections

In addition to paintings, drawings, and sculptures, the Gallery has a number of other types of art. The Literary Gallery, in addition to John James Audubon's "The Birds of America", contains the oldest single item in the entire collection, a page from the Gutenberg Bible printed between 1450 and 1455 by Johann Gutenberg in Germany. It is one of the first examples of printing by movable type in the western world. Also located in the Literary Gallery are four Black Basalt busts of Greek and Roman philosophers, produced by Josiah Wedgwood and his partner Thomas Bentley. They are part of the Gallery's collection of over 300 pieces of Wedgwood dating from 1775 to 1900, which includes examples of Black Basalt, Jasperware, and a pair of rare porphyry vases. This collection is one of the finest in the southern United States.

Glass art is also represented in the Gallery in collections of Depression Era pressed-glass pieces and the largest public collection of Steuben glass animals in the country.In addition, more than 140 rare and unusual firearms are assembled in the Antique Firearms Gallery. Many of these are finely engraved and inlaid with gold, silver, and platinum. E.C. Prudhomme, a local resident and a master engraver of international reputation, produced the exquisite semi-relief scroll engraving on some of the firearms displayed. Across the hall resides one of the favorite collections of many of the younger visitors: 58 antique dolls of French and German bisque porcelain which pay tribute to the history and fashions of Louisiana from 1720 to 1920.