About
The Norton’s permanent collection is quite extensive, including the works of over 100 artists... from Renaissance Old Masters, to modernist iconoclasts and contemporary neo-realists.Â
In addition, our museum possesses hundreds of sculptures ranging from miniatures and maquettes to life-size pieces in media including bronze, silver, marble, and wood.
Among the oldest works in the Norton are pieces from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia and six tapestries dating from the 16th century which once graced the palace of a King of France.
Decorative arts are also featured throughout the museum, including works in porcelain, pressed and blown glass, and 18th - 19th century silver.
Visit Our Botanical Gardens,
and Enjoy the Fusion of Art and Nature
Botanical Gardens Hours: Wednesday - Sunday from sunrise to sunset
No photography or videography, private or commercial, is allowed inside the museum or on the grounds.
Weddings and private events are NOT allowed on the property.
Learn More About…Botanical Gardens
Events & Exhibitions
3 events found.
List of events in Photo View
-
February 5 - March 15
Daydreams: A Pop-Up Exhibit by Whitney Pollock
-
March 26 - May 17
BLOOM!
-
Follow us on Social Media
Everywhere else it`s just another Tuesday. đź’śđź’šđź’› Happy Mardi Gras from all of us at the Norton!
Happy Presidents Day from the Norton🇺🇸
To commemorate, let`s take a closer look at "George Washington," attributed to artist Jane Stuart!
.
The face of our first president, George Washington, has become familiar due to the immortalizing portrait of him painted by Gilbert Stuart in the mid-18th century. What isn’t familiar is the name Jane Stuart (1812-1888), Gilbert’s daughter, who was a painter herself. Although she created her own compositions and even held her own studio, Jane is best known for the meticulous copies made of her father’s work in an attempt to help keep his legacy alive.
From childhood, Jane found herself as her father`s studio assistant, grinding pigments and filling in secondary details of Gilbert’s work. Although her father refused to formally teach her, Jane learned his techniques and style by observing while he instructed other students. Stuart died in 1828, leaving his family nearly destitute after wasting their money on drink and gambling.
After her father passed away in 1828, Jane moved to study painting at the New York Academy of Fine Arts. Sixteen-year-old Jane soon established her own studio and took over the support of her family, remaining single her entire life. Despite his faults, she was her father`s staunchest admirer and did much to preserve his reputation, in addition to producing multiple copies of his most famous works.
.
Also Shown:
Photograph taken of Jane Stuart dressed as one of the stepsisters from Cinderella at one of her annual Halloween parties, date unknown.
"It’s easy to forget that Jane was an average person, despite her talents and place in history. She dressed up for costume parties, where she ate, drank, and made merry like everyone else. Jane and her sisters, although not very wealthy, did what they could to celebrate this time of year in their youth. Jane is reported to have served apple cider and ginger cookies to whoever came to visit on the last night of October."
- The Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Rhode Island
That`s a wrap on Hearts for Art! Now it’s time to count up the love. Check out which works stole the most hearts this year! ❤️🎨
Happy Valentine’s Day from the R.W. Norton Art Gallery to YOU! We’re celebrating our love for art with #HeartsForArt. ❤️
Show your love of art at the Norton this weekend. Pick up a heart at our Front Desk and place it in front of a piece of artwork you love.
Happy Valentine`s Day! Save these to send to your art-loving Valentine this year. đź’Ś
Thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for the opening reception of "Daydreams: A Pop-Up Exhibit by Whitney Pollock." It was truly a magical evening filled with love, art, and community made even more special by the beautiful music from @q_major318.
If you haven’t seen it yet, "Daydreams" will be on display through March 15th. We can’t wait for you to experience it. ✨
.
🎨 @artbywhitney
📸 @clearlygrace
Happy Galentine`s Day! Tag your girlfriends in the comments below and tell them why you love them. đź’•
.
Shown:
"Blanche and Rosalie Sully" by Thomas Sully (1783-1872) Oil on canvas, 1842
"Dancers Resting (Young Girls)" by Marion Greenwood (1909 - 1970) Lithograph, c. 1940
"Le Lettre d`Amour" by J. Walker (19th century) Oil on canvas, date unknown
"Shadow Dance" by Martin Lewis (1881 - 1962) Drypoint and Sand Ground, 1930
A Valentine`s Spotlight from the Collectionđź’Ś
.
Let`s take a look at "La Lettre d`Amour by artist F. Walker.
Although the work`s date of creation is unknown, from the clothing, this painting is set sometime around the 1840s and illustrates one of the sweetest rites of passage - the love letter. In a time when young men and women were seldom, if ever, left alone together, tender sentiments were restricted to the privacy of the written word, safe from the suspicious eyes and ears of one`s elders (not that a young lady wouldn`t want to share such lovely phrases with her best friend or sister at this one does, as anyone who`s ever read Jane Austen knowns). And, of course, those letters, tied together with a ribbon, also provided charming keepsakes to reminisce over later in life. Thus, was courtship pursued in that more prudent time, at least for the literate middle and upper classes. In this case, the lovesick swain has borrowed from the words of the Master, choosing to woo the young lady with a quatrain from Shakespeare`s Hamlet:
"Doubt thou the stars are Fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But doubt I love."
.
Have you ever written or received a love letter? Tell us in the comments!
Check out "La Lettre d`Amour" by F. Walker on display now in the Oval Galleryđź’Ś
Collection Highlights
The R.W. Norton Art Gallery boasts an extensive permanent collection that includes more than 400 paintings and a plethora of sculptures representing over 100 artists. Our collection represents a wide variety of styles, time periods, and historical importance.
Schedule a Tour
Group tours are available on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 - 3:30 pm.
To request a guided tour for an adult group, please complete our form…