Photo by Cecelia Brown
Desiring culture? Interested in viewing various selections of eclectic and elegant artwork? Need a break from your stressful and hectic academic life?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re in luck. Just a short walk past the south lot on campus lies a grand neo-classical building that houses a varied art collection of over 10,000 pieces. This structure is the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, founded in 1932 by Harriet Upson Allyn, as homage to her father Lyman Allyn. It contains mainly impressive works, including a Picasso and a Warhol.
The museum’s main level contains mainly fascinating and numerous portrait and landscape paintings done by American artists between the 18th and 20th centuries, like Beatrice Cumming, William Chadwick, Charles Ebert, Winslow Homer, and Gilbert Stuart. Also interesting to see is the curious collection of colonial furniture the museum offers, which includes delicately crafted armoires from the 1680’s, regal and gilded grandfather clocks, and even old iron stoves from the 18th century.
Although most of the display is dedicated to talented American artists from the 18th through 20th centuries, the second level of the museum features many multi-national sculptures, paintings, photographs, and drawings. Numerous pieces can be found on this floor, including varied and innovative works by African, Aboriginal, Chinese, French, Inuit, Native American, Spanish, and other artists.
Also intriguing on the upper floor is a large exhibit dedicated purely to painters hailing from Rhode Island, during 1873-1941. Many beautiful natural and picturesque scenes can be found here, often appearing in the impressionistic and post impressionistic styles.
Overall, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum is a great artistic oasis just a short walk away from Conn’s main campus. Before leaving the museum, be sure to check out the museum’s gift shop, which is filled with books and prints from the various exhibits. Also, make sure you have seen the captivating and featured prints of one of Conn’s own professors, Ted Hendrickson. Additionally, the building has a quaint and charming library, which features colossal models of sailing ships, an antique piano, other small works, and would even make a great place to reflect or study in.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5, and on Sunday from 1-5. There is no fee for a Connecticut College student – just remember to bring your ID with you. •
