Since its founding in 1913, the Cleveland Museum of Art has grown to become one of the nation’s most important art galleries. Currently, it houses more than 43,000 works of art. The museum’s diverse holdings range from ancient Egypt to modern America, including a broad European collection and an impressive array of Chinese artworks. Remarkably, you can see this amazing permanent collection for free. Temporary exhibits are also displayed in the museum.
Start in the Ancient Egypt collection, which is considered to be one of the finest in the world. Look out for sculptures that were produced during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The museum also displays a number of statues and certain cosmetic items for the Greco-Roman period.
Continue on to see the museum’s Chinese holdings. Here you can peruse 5 millenia of artwork from the far East including jade sculptures, bamboo carvings, paintings, and ceramics. The American art collection is also worth a visit, with 300 paintings on display. One of these, a portrait by John Singleton Copley, is the first one ever purchased by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The museum’s two European collections take in some 600 years of art history. Chart the continent’s artistic developments as you take in religious paintings such as Caravaggio’s ‘The Crucifixion of St. Andrew’ as well as Impressionist works by such luminaries as Degas, Monet, and Van Gogh. The peerless Pablo Picasso also makes an appearance.
Since the Cleveland Museum of Art is so voluminous, and its collection so extensive, you might want to take a little break at the on-site café. Should you want more information about any of the collections, ask one of the docents for details about the museum’s regular lectures and tours.
Located in the University Circle, the Cleveland Museum of Art is easily accessible by bus or rapid train. Parking is also available on-site. The free facility is open every day of the week but Monday, and it is closed on major public holidays.
