The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest

art museum An art museum or art gallery is a building or space for the display of art, usually from the museum's own Collection (artwork), collection. It might be in public or private ownership, be accessible to all, or have restrictions in place. Although ...

s in the United States. The museum is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

's Grant Park. Its collection, stewarded by 11 curatorial departments, includes works such as Georges Seurat's ''A Sunday on La Grande Jatte'',

Pablo Picasso Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, Ceramic art, ceramicist, and Scenic ...

's '' The Old Guitarist'',

Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realism painter and printmaker. He is one of America's most renowned artists and known for his skill in depicting modern American life and landscapes. Born in Nyack, New York, to a ...

's '' Nighthawks'', and Grant Wood's '' American Gothic''. Its permanent collection of nearly 300,000 works of art is augmented by more than 30 special exhibitions mounted yearly that illuminate aspects of the collection and present curatorial and scientific research. As a research institution, the Art Institute also has a conservation and conservation science department, five conservation laboratories, and Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, one of the nation's largest art history and architecture libraries. The museum's building was constructed for the 1893

World's Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair, was a world's fair held in Chicago from May 5 to October 31, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The ...

and, due to the growth of the collection, several additions have occurred since. The Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, is the most recent expansion, and when it opened in 2009 it increased the museum's footprint to nearly one million square feet. This made it the second largest art museum in the United States, after the

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an Encyclopedic museum, encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the List of largest museums, third-largest museum in the world and the List of larg ...

in New York City. The Art Institute is associated with the

School of the Art Institute of Chicago The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a Private university, private art school associated with the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC) in Chicago, Illinois. Tracing its history to an art students' cooperative founded in 1866, which gr ...

, a leading art school, making it one of the few remaining unified arts institutions in the United States.

History

19th century

In 1866, a group of 35 artists founded the Chicago Academy of Design in a studio on Dearborn Street, with the intent to run a free school with its own art gallery. The organization was modeled after European art academies, such as the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House in Piccadilly London, England. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its ...

, with Academicians and Associate Academicians. The academy's charter was granted in March 1867. Classes started in 1868, meeting every day at a cost of $10 per month. The academy's success enabled it to build a new home for the school, a five-story stone building on 66 West Adams Street, which opened on November 22, 1870. When the Great Chicago Fire destroyed the building in 1871, the academy was thrown into debt. Attempts to continue despite the loss by using rented facilities failed. By 1878, the academy was $10,000 in debt. Members tried to rescue the ailing institution by making deals with local businessmen, before some finally abandoned it in 1879 to found a new organization, named the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. When the Chicago Academy of Design went bankrupt the same year, the new Chicago Academy of Fine Arts bought its assets at auction. In 1882, the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts changed its name to the current Art Institute of Chicago and elected as its first president the banker and philanthropist Charles L. Hutchinson, who "is arguably the single most important individual to have shaped the direction and fortunes of the Art Institute of Chicago". Hutchinson was a director of many prominent Chicago organizations, including the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, and would transform the Art Institute into a world-class museum during his presidency, which he held until his death in 1924. Also in 1882, the organization purchased a lot on the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street for $45,000. The existing commercial building on that property was used for the organization's headquarters, and a new addition was constructed behind it to provide gallery space and to house the school's facilities. By January 1885 the trustees recognized the need to provide additional space for the organization's growing collection, and to this end purchased the vacant lot directly south on Michigan Avenue. The commercial building was demolished, and the noted architect John Wellborn Root was hired by Hutchinson to design a building that would create an "impressive presence" on Michigan Avenue, and these facilities opened to great fanfare in 1887. With the announcement of the

to be held in 1892–93, the Art Institute pressed for a building on the lakefront to be constructed for the fair, but to be used by the institute afterwards. The city agreed, and the building was completed in time for the second year of the fair. Construction costs were met by selling the Michigan/Van Buren property. On October 31, 1893, the institute moved into the new building. For the opening reception on December 8, 1893, Theodore Thomas and the

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia F ...

performed.

20th century

From the early 1900s to the 1960s the school offered with the Logan Family (members of the board) the Logan Medal of the Arts, an award which became one of the most distinguished awards presented to artists in the U.S. Between 1959 and 1970, the institute was a key site in the battle to gain art and documentary photography a place in galleries, under curator Hugh Edwards and his assistants. As director of the museum starting in the early 1980s, James N. Wood conducted a major expansion of its collection and oversaw a major renovation and expansion project for its facilities. As "one of the most respected museum leaders in the country", as described by ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', Wood created major exhibitions of works by Paul Gauguin,

Claude Monet Oscar-Claude Monet (, ; ; 14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French painter and founder of Impressionism painting who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it. During his ...

, and

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade, he created approximately 2,100 artworks ...

that set records for attendance at the museum. He retired from the museum in 2004.

21st century

The institute began construction of "The Modern Wing", an addition situated on the southwest corner of Columbus and Monroe in the early 21st century. The project, designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, was completed and officially opened to the public on May 16, 2009. The building addition made the Art Institute the second-largest art museum in the United States. The building houses the museum's world-renowned collections of 20th and 21st century art, specifically modern European painting and sculpture, contemporary art, architecture and design, and photography. In its inaugural survey in 2014, travel review website and forum,

Tripadvisor Tripadvisor is an American company that operates online travel agency, travel agencies, comparison shopping websites, and mobile apps with user-generated content. Its namesake brand, Tripadvisor.com, operates in 40 countries and 20 languages, and ...

, reviewed millions of travelers' surveys and named the Art Institute the world's best museum. The museum received perhaps the largest gift of art in its history in 2015. Collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson donated a "collection

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

is among the world's greatest groups of postwar Pop art ever assembled". The donation includes works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Cy Twombly, Jeff Koons, Charles Ray, Richard Prince, Cindy Sherman,

Roy Lichtenstein Roy Fox Lichtenstein ( ; October27, 1923September29, 1997) was an American pop artist. He rose to prominence in the 1960s through pieces which were inspired by popular advertising and the comic book style. Much of his work explores the relations ...

and

Gerhard Richter Gerhard Richter (; born 9 February 1932) is a German visual artist. Richter has produced Abstract art, abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, photographs and Glass art, glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important con ...

. The museum agreed to keep the donated work on display for at least 50 years. In June 2018, the museum received a $50 million donation, the largest single announced unrestricted monetary donation in its history. In September 2024, the Art Institute of Chicago announced a $75 million donation from collectors Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed, marking the largest naming gift in the museum's history. This contribution is designated for the development of The Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed Building, intended to showcase the museum's extensive collection of late 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. In February 2025, the Art Institute of Chicago received a significant donation from collectors Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz, comprising nearly 2,000 drawings, 200 paintings, and 50 sculptures by renowned French artists such as

Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...

and François Boucher. This collection, amassed over four decades, spans the 16th to 19th centuries, with a focus on Neoclassicism. The Horvitzes have also pledged financial support for the collection's ongoing conservation and research, which the museum anticipates will constitute one of the largest financial gifts in its history.

Collection

The collection of the Art Institute of Chicago encompasses more than 5,000 years of human expression from cultures around the world and contains more than 300,000 works of art in 11 curatorial departments, ranging from early Japanese prints to the art of the

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

to contemporary American art. It is principally known for one of the United States' finest collection of paintings produced in Western culture.

African Art and Indian Art of the Americas

The Art Institute's African Art and Indian Art of the Americas collections are on display across two galleries in the south end of the Michigan Avenue building. The African collection includes more than 400 works that span the continent, highlighting ceramics, garments, masks, and jewelry. The Amerindian collection includes Native North American art and

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area that begins in the southern part of North America and extends to the Pacific coast of Central America, thus comprising the lands of central and southern Mexico, all of Belize, Guatemala, El S ...

n and

Andean The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long and wide (widest between 18°S ...

works. From pottery to textiles, the collection brings together a wide array of objects that seek to illustrate the thematic and aesthetic focuses of art spanning the Americas.

American art

The Art Institute's American Art collection contains some of the best-known works in the American canon, including

's '' Nighthawks'', Grant Wood's '' American Gothic'', and Mary Cassatt's '' The Child's Bath''. The collection ranges from colonial silver to modern and contemporary paintings. The museum purchased ''Nighthawks'' in 1942 for $3,000; its acquisition "launched" the painting into "immense popular recognition". Considered an "icon of American culture", ''Nighthawks'' is perhaps Hopper's most famous painting, and one of the most recognizable images in

American art Visual art of the United States or American art is visual art made in the United States or by U.S. artists. Before colonization, there were many flourishing traditions of Native American art, and where the Spanish colonized Spanish Colonial arc ...

. Also well known, ''American Gothic'' has been in the museum's collection since 1930 and was only loaned outside of North America for the first time in 2016. Wood's painting depicts what has been called "the most famous couple in the world", a dour, rural-American, father and daughter. It was entered into a contest at the Art Institute in 1930, and although not a favorite of some, it won a medal and was acquired by the museum.Fineman, Mia (June 8, 2005)
"The Most Famous Farm Couple in the World: Why American Gothic still fascinates"
''

Slate Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade, regional metamorphism. It is the finest-grained foliated metamorphic ro ...

''.

Ancient and Byzantine

The Art Institute's ancient collection spans nearly 4,000 years of art and history, showcasing Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian sculpture, mosaics, pottery, jewelry, glass, and bronze and a robust and well-maintained collection of ancient coins. There are around 5,000 works in the collection, offering a comprehensive survey of the ancient and medieval Mediterranean world, beginning with the third millennium B.C. and extending to the

. The collection also holds the mummy and mummy case of Paankhenamun.

Architecture and Design

The Department of Architecture and Design holds more than 140,000 works, from models to drawings from the 1870s to the present day. The collection covers

landscape architecture Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor areas, landmarks, and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioural, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic design and general engineering of various structures for constructio ...

structural engineering Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the 'bones and joints' that create the form and shape of human-made Structure#Load-bearing, structures. Structural engineers also ...

, and

industrial design Industrial design is a process of design applied to physical Product (business), products that are to be manufactured by mass production. It is the creative act of determining and defining a product's form and features, which takes place in adva ...

, including the works of

Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright Sr. (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed List of Frank Lloyd Wright works, more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key ...

, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and

Le Corbusier Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 188727 August 1965), known as Le Corbusier ( , ; ), was a Swiss-French architectural designer, painter, urban planner and writer, who was one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture ...

Asian art

The Art Institute's Asian collection spans nearly 5,000 years, including significant works and objects from China, Korea, Japan, India, Southeast Asia, and the Near and Middle East. There are 35,000 objects in the collection, showcasing bronzes, ceramics, jades, textiles, screens, woodcuts, and sculptures. One gallery in particular attempts to mimic the quiet and meditative way in which Japanese screens are traditionally viewed.

European Decorative Arts

The Art Institute's collection of European decorative arts includes some 25,000 objects of furniture, ceramics, metalwork, glass, enamel, and ivory from 1100 AD to the present day. The department contains the 1,544 objects in the Arthur Rubloff Paperweight Collection and the 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms–a collection of miniaturized interiors of a 1:12 scale showcasing American, European, and Asian architectural and furniture styles from the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

to the 1930s (when the rooms were constructed). Both the paperweights and the Thorne Rooms are located on the ground floor of the museum.

European painting and sculptures

The museum is most famous for its collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, widely regarded as one of the finest collections outside of France. Highlights include more than 30 paintings by

, including six of his ''Haystacks'' and a number of '' Water Lilies''. Also in the collection are important works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir such as '' Two Sisters (On the Terrace),'' and Gustave Caillebotte's '' Paris Street; Rainy Day.'' Post-Impressionist works include

Paul Cézanne Paul Cézanne ( , , ; ; ; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French Post-Impressionism, Post-Impressionist painter whose work introduced new modes of representation, influenced avant-garde artistic movements of the early 20th century a ...

's '' The Basket of Apples'', and '' Madame Cézanne in a Yellow Chair.'' '' At the Moulin Rouge'' by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is another highlight. The pointillist masterpiece, which also inspired a musical and was featured in '' Ferris Bueller's Day Off'', Georges Seurat's '' Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte—1884,'' is prominently displayed. Additionally,

Henri Matisse Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual arts, visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a drawing, draughtsman, printmaking, printmaker, ...

's '' Bathers by a River'', is an important example of his work. Highlights of non-French paintings of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection include

's '' Bedroom in Arles'' and ''

Self-portrait Self-portraits are Portrait painting, portraits artists make of themselves. Although self-portraits have been made since the earliest times, the practice of self-portraiture only gaining momentum in the Early Renaissance in the mid-15th century ...

'', 1887. In the mid-1930s, the Art Institute received a gift of over one hundred works of art from Annie Swan Coburn ("Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Larned Coburn Memorial Collection"). The "Coburn Renoirs" became the core of the Art Institute's Impressionist painting collection. The collection also includes the Medieval and Renaissance Art, Arms, and Armor holdings, including the George F. Harding Collection of arms and armor, and three centuries of Old Masters works.

Modern and Contemporary Art

The museum's collection of modern and contemporary art was significantly augmented when collectors Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson gifted 40 plus master works to the department in 2015.

's ''Old Guitarist'',

's ''Bathers by a River'', Constantin Brâncuși's ''Golden Bird'', and

René Magritte René François Ghislain Magritte (; 21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgium, Belgian surrealist artist known for his depictions of familiar objects in unfamiliar, unexpected contexts, which often provoked questions about the nature ...

's '' Time Transfixed'' are highlights of the modern galleries, located on the third floor of the Modern Wing. The contemporary installation, located on the second floor, contains works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly,

Jackson Pollock Paul Jackson Pollock (; January 28, 1912August 11, 1956) was an American painter. A major figure in the abstract expressionist movement, Pollock was widely noticed for his "Drip painting, drip technique" of pouring or splashing liquid household ...

, Jasper Johns, and other significant modern and contemporary artists.

Photography

The Art Institute did not officially establish a photography collection until 1949, when Georgia O'Keeffe donated a significant portion of the

Alfred Stieglitz Alfred Stieglitz (; January 1, 1864 – July 13, 1946) was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his 50-year career in making photography an accepted art form. In addition to his photography, Stieglitz was k ...

collection to the museum. Since then, the museum's collection has grown to approximately 20,000 works spanning the history of the artform from its inception in 1839 to the present.

Prints and Drawings

The print and drawings collection began with a donation by Elizabeth S. Stickney of 460 works in 1887, and was organized into its own department of the museum in 1911. Their holdings have subsequently grown to 11,500 drawings and 60,000 prints, ranging from 15th-century works to contemporary. The collection contains a strong group of the works of

Albrecht Dürer Albrecht Dürer ( , ;; 21 May 1471 – 6 April 1528),Müller, Peter O. (1993) ''Substantiv-Derivation in Den Schriften Albrecht Dürers'', Walter de Gruyter. . sometimes spelled in English as Durer or Duerer, was a German painter, Old master prin ...

, Rembrandt van Rijn,

Francisco Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (; ; 30 March 1746 – 16 April 1828) was a Spanish Romanticism, romantic painter and Printmaking, printmaker. He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hi ...

, and

James McNeill Whistler James Abbott McNeill Whistler (; July 10, 1834July 17, 1903) was an American painter in oils and watercolor, and printmaker, active during the American Gilded Age and based primarily in the United Kingdom. He eschewed sentimentality and moral a ...

. Because works on paper are sensitive to light and degrade quickly, the works are on display infrequently in order to keep them in good condition for as long as possible.

Textiles

The Department of Textiles has more than 13,000 textiles and 66,000 sample swatches in total, covering an array of cultures from 300 BC to the present. From English needlework to Japanese garments to American quilts, the collection presents a diverse group of objects, including contemporary works and

fiber art Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a #Natural fibers, natural or Fiber#Artificial fibers, artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The st ...

Selections from the permanent collection

Other notable works are in the collection but the following examples are ones in the public domain and for which pictures are available. In 2018, as it redesigned its website, the Art Institute released images of 52,438 of its public domain works, under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licence.

Paintings

File:Bernat Martorell - Saint George Killing the Dragon - Google Art Project.jpg, Martorell, '' Saint George and the Dragon'', c. 1434/35 File:Saint Martin and the Beggar (c1597-1600) by El Greco - Chicago.jpg,

El Greco Doménikos Theotokópoulos (, ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco (; "The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance, regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. ...

, '' Saint Martin and the Beggar'', c. 1597–1600 File:Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn - Old Man with a Gold Chain - Google Art Project.jpg,

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

, '' Old Man with a Gold Chain'', c. 1631 File:Antoine Watteau - Fête champêtre (Pastoral Gathering).jpg,

Antoine Watteau Jean-Antoine Watteau (, , ; baptised 10 October 1684died 18 July 1721) Alsavailablevia Oxford Art Online (subscription needed). was a French Painting, painter and Drawing, draughtsman whose brief career spurred the revival of interest in colour ...

, ''Fête champêtre (Pastoral Gathering)'', 1718–1721 File:John Singleton Copley - Mrs. Daniel Hubbard (Mary Greene) - 1947.28 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg, John Singleton Copley, "Mrs. Daniel Hubbard (Mary Greene), 1764 File:Gilbert Stuart - Major-General Henry Dearborn - 1913.793 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg,

Gilbert Stuart Gilbert Stuart ( Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists. His best-k ...

, '' Portrait of Henry Dearborn'', 1812 File:Eugène Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 021.jpg,

Eugène Delacroix Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix ( ; ; 26 April 1798 – 13 August 1863) was a French people, French Romanticism, Romantic artist who was regarded as the leader of the French Romantic school.Noon, Patrick, et al., ''Crossing the Channel: ...

, ''The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan'', 1826 File:The Captive Slave.jpg, John Simpson, '' The Captive Slave'', 1827 File:Édouard Manet - Steamboat Leaving Boulogne - 1922.425 - Art Institute of Chicago (cropped).jpg,

Édouard Manet Édouard Manet (, ; ; 23 January 1832 – 30 April 1883) was a French Modernism, modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism (art movement), R ...

, ''Seascape Calm Weather'', 1864–1865 Image:Jesus Mocked by the Soldiers.jpg,

, ''Jesus Mocked by the Soldiers'', 1864–1865 Image:The Philosopher.jpg,

, ''The Philosopher, (Beggar with Oysters)'', 1864–1867 File:Dante Gabriel Rossetti - Beata Beatrix - 1925.722 - Art Institute of Chicago.jpg,

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Gabriel Charles Dante Rossetti (12 May 1828 – 9 April 1882), generally known as Dante Gabriel Rossetti ( ; ), was an English poet, illustrator, painter, translator, and member of the Rossetti family. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brother ...

, '' Beata Beatrix'', c. 1871–1872 File:Gustave Caillebotte - Paris Street; Rainy Day - Google Art Project.jpg, Gustave Caillebotte, '' Paris Street; Rainy Day'', 1876–1877 Image:Claude Monet 003.jpg,

, '' Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare'', 1877 File:Pierre-Auguste Renoir - By the Water.jpg, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, ''By the Water'', 1880 Image:Pierre-Auguste Renoir 007.jpg, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, '' Two Sisters (On the Terrace)'', 1881 File:Jules Breton, le chant de l'alouette.1884.jpg, Jules Breton, '' The Song of the Lark'', 1884 File:Paul Cézanne 044.jpg,

, ''The Bay of Marseilles, view from L'Estaque'', 1885 File:Edgar Degas - The Millinery Shop - Google Art Project.jpg, Edgar Degas, '' The Millinery Shop'', 1885 File:A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat, 1884.png, Georges-Pierre Seurat, '' Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte'' 1884–1886 Image:VanGogh 1887 Selbstbildnis.jpg,

, ''

,'' 1887 File:Vincent Willem van Gogh 135.jpg,

, '' Bedroom in Arles,'' 1888 File:Wheatstacks (End of Summer), 1890-91 (190 Kb); Oil on canvas, 60 x 100 cm (23 5-8 x 39 3-8 in), The Art Institute of Chicago.jpg,

, '' Wheatstacks (End of Summer),'' 1890–1891 Image:Le panier de pommes, par Paul Cézanne.jpg,

, '' The Basket of Apples'', c.1890s File:Lautrec at the moulin rouge 1892.jpg, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, '' At the Moulin Rouge'', 1892 File:Paul Gauguin, No te aha oe riri (Why Are You Angry?), 1896, 1933.1119, Art Institute of Chicago.jpg, Paul Gauguin, ''Why are you angry? (No te aha oe Riri)'', 1896 File:Winslow Homer - After the Hurricane, Bahamas.jpg, Winslow Homer, '' After the Hurricane'', 1899 File:Odilon Redon - Sita.jpg,

Odilon Redon Odilon Redon (born Bertrand Redon; ; 20 April 18406 July 1916) was a French Symbolist painting, Symbolist draftsman, printmaker, and painter. Early in his career, both before and after fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, Redon worked almost exc ...

, ''Sita'', 1903 File:Pablo Picasso, 1904, Woman with a Helmet of Hair, gouache on tan wood pulp board, 42.7 x 31.3 cm, Art Institute of Chicago.jpg, Pablo Picasso, 1904, ''Woman with a Helmet of Hair'', gouache on tan wood pulp board File:Edgar Degas - Woman at Her Toilette.jpg, Edgar Degas, ''Woman at Her Toilette'', c. 1900–1905 Image:Claude Monet - Water Lilies - 1906, Ryerson.jpg,

, '' Water Lilies'', 1906 File:Pablo Picasso, 1909, Head of a Woman (Tête de femme), oil on canvas, 60.3 x 51.1 cm, The Art Institute of Chicago.jpg,

, 1909, ''Head of a Woman (Tête de femme)'' File:Juan Gris - Portrait of Pablo Picasso - Google Art Project.jpg, Juan Gris, ''Portrait of Picasso'', 1912 File:Jean Metzinger, 1913, La Femme à l'Éventail, Woman with a Fan, oil on canvas, 92.8 x 65.2 cm, Art Institute of Chicago..jpg,

Jean Metzinger Jean Dominique Antony Metzinger (; 24 June 1883 – 3 November 1956) was a major 20th-century French painter, theorist, writer, critic and poet, who along with Albert Gleizes wrote the first theoretical work on Cubism. His earliest works, from 1 ...

, 1913, '' La Femme à l'Éventail (Woman with a Fan)'' File:Vassilly Kandinsky, 1912 - Landscape With Two Poplars.jpg,

Wassily Kandinsky Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky ( – 13 December 1944) was a Russian painter and art theorist. Kandinsky is generally credited as one of the pioneers of abstract art, abstraction in western art. Born in Moscow, he spent his childhood in ...

, 1912, ''Landscape With Two Poplars'' File:Painterly Realism of a Football Player – Color Masses in the 4th Dimension (Malevich, 1915) - Google Art Project.jpg,

Kazimir Malevich Kazimir Severinovich Malevich (

, ''Painterly Realism of a Football Player—Color Masses in the 4th Dimension'', 1915 File:Amedeo Modigliani - Jacques and Berthe Lipchitz - Google Art Project.jpg,

Amedeo Modigliani Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (; ; 12 July 1884 – 24 January 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor of the École de Paris who worked mainly in France. He is known for portraits and nudes in a modern art, modern style characterized by a surre ...

, '' Jacques and Berthe Lipchitz'', 1916 File:Grant Wood - American Gothic - Google Art Project.jpg, Grant Wood, '' American Gothic'', 1930

Sculptures

File:AIC-chimera.jpg, A

Han dynasty The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...

(206 BC – 220 AD), tomb sculpture of a pixiu (or chimera) creature File:1981.11 - Statue of the Aphrodite of Knidos.jpg, ''Aphrodite of Knidos'', 2nd Century Roman, inspired by Praxiteles File:Alapini vina @ Art Institute of Chicago - detail of black schist of God Vishnu with His Consorts Lakshmi and Sarasvati - Bangladesh or Eastern India, Pala period, 10th-12th century.jpg,

Saraswati Saraswati (, ), also spelled as Sarasvati, is one of the principal Devi, goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, purification, language and culture. Together with the godde ...

playing an alapini vina, Bangladesh, Pala period 10th–12th century AD File:Coronation_stone_of_motecuhzoma_ii.jpg,

Aztec The Aztecs ( ) were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in central Mexico in the Post-Classic stage, post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec people included different Indigenous peoples of Mexico, ethnic groups of central ...

, ''Coronation Stone of Motecuhzoma II'' (''Stone of the Five Suns'') 1503 File:Rodin - Adam.jpg,

Auguste Rodin François Auguste René Rodin (; ; 12 November 184017 November 1917) was a French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture. He was schooled traditionally and took a craftsman-like approach to his work. Rodin possessed a u ...

, ''Adam'' (1881) cast in bronze 1924 File:Art Institute of Chicago Lion Statue (2-D).jpg,

Edward Kemeys Edward Kemeys (January 31, 1843 – May 11, 1907) was an American sculptor and considered America's first animalier. He is best known for his sculptures of animals, particularly the Lions (Kemeys), two bronze lions that mark the entrance to the ...

, '' Lions'', 1893 File:Richard_Hunt_Hero_Construction,_1958_Art_Institute_of_Chicago.jpg, Richard Hunt, ''Hero Construction'', 1958 File:Calderflyingdragon.jpg,

Alexander Calder Alexander "Sandy" Calder (; July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobile (sculpture), mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) that embrace chance in their aesthetic, hi ...

, '' Flying Dragon'', 1975

More highlights from the collection

File:Ancient Greek Amphora of the Tarquinia Painter Herakles killing the Nemean Lion.jpg, Ancient Greek Amphora depicts Herakles killing the Nemean Lion, with Iolaus and

Nemea Nemea (; ; ) is an ancient site in the northeastern part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. Formerly part of the territory of Cleonae (Argolis), Cleonae in ancient Argolis, it is today situated in the regional units of Greece, regional unit of Corin ...

on the left and

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarde ...

and Hermes on the right. 550–525 BC. File:The Annunciation, from a Book of Hours, 1440-45.jpg, Illuminated Manuscript page from a

Book of Hours A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, ...

, c. 1440/45 File:Pieces from porcelain collection in Art Institute of Chicago.jpg, Pieces from the porcelain collection in the Art Institute of Chicago File:1952.343 - Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami.jpg, '' The Great Wave off Kanagawa'' (Under the Wave off Kanagawa) Japanese woodblock print by Hokusai, c. 1830 (this is one of three held by the museum) File:Sideboard and Wine Cabinet, 1859, designed by William Burges, London, made by Hartland & Faber - Art Institute of Chicago - DSC09863.JPG, Sideboard and Wine Cabinet, 1859, designed by William Burges File:Salon Louis XVI The Thorne rooms.jpg, One of the Thorne Miniature Rooms, ´Salon Louis XVI´ c. 1930s File:Silver Salver, Made by Edward Winslow, ca 1715, in the Art Institute of Chicago.jpg, Silver Salver, Made by

Edward Winslow Edward Winslow (18 October 15958 May 1655) was a English Separatist, Separatist and New England political leader who traveled on the ''Mayflower'' in 1620. He was one of several senior leaders on the ship and also later at Plymouth Colony. Both ...

Architecture

The current building complex at 111 South Michigan Avenue is the third address for the Art Institute. Situated in Grant Park, it was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

to host national and international meetings held in conjunction with the 1893

, as the World's Congress Auxiliary Building, with the intent that the Art Institute occupy the space after the close of the fair. The Art Institute's entrance on Michigan Avenue is guarded by two bronze lion statues created by

. The lions were unveiled on May 10, 1894, each weighing more than two tons. The sculptor gave them unofficial names: the south lion "stands in an attitude of defiance", and the north lion is "on the prowl". When a Chicago sports team plays in the championships of their respective league (i.e. the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Finals, not the entire playoffs), the lions are frequently dressed in that team's uniform. Evergreen wreaths are placed around their necks during the Christmas season. The east entrance of the museum is marked by the stone arch entrance to the old Chicago Stock Exchange. Designed by Louis Sullivan in 1894, the Exchange was demolished in 1972, but salvaged portions of the original trading room were brought to the Art Institute and reconstructed. The Art Institute building has the unusual property of straddling open-air railroad tracks. Two stories of gallery space connect the east and west buildings while the Metra Electric and South Shore lines operate below. The lower level of gallery space was formerly the windowless Gunsaulus hall, but is now home to the Alsdorf Galleries showcasing Indian, Southeast Asian and Himalayan Art. During renovation, windows facing north toward Millennium Park were added. The gallery space was designed by Renzo Piano in conjunction with his design of the Modern Wing and features the same window screening used there to protect the art from direct sunlight. The upper level formerly held the modern European galleries, but was renovated in 2008 and now features the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist galleries. In September 2024, the museum announced a gift of $75 million for a new gallery building or wing named for benefactors Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed. The gallery is intended to increase space for 19th century, modern, and contemporary art. The design and placement of the new gallery or gallery building are yet to be decided.

Libraries

Located on the ground floor of the museum is the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries. The Libraries' collections cover all periods of art, but is most known for its extensive collection of 18th to 20th century architecture. It serves the museum staff, college and university students, and is also open to the general public. The Friends of the Libraries, a support group for the Libraries, offers events and special tours for its members.

Modern Wing

On May 16, 2009, the Art Institute opened the Modern Wing, the largest expansion in the museum's history. The addition, designed by Renzo Piano, makes the Art Institute the second-largest museum in the US. The

architect of record Architect of record is the architect or architecture firm whose name appears on a building permit issued for a specific project on which that architect or firm performed services. Issuance of building permits Building permits are issued by a ...

in the City of Chicago for this building was Interactive Design. The Modern Wing is home to the museum's collection of early 20th-century European art, including

's '' The Old Guitarist'',

's ''Bathers by a River'', and

's '' Time Transfixed.'' The Lindy and Edwin Bergman Collection of Surrealist art includes the largest public display of Joseph Cornell's works (37 boxes and collages). The Wing also houses

contemporary art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...

from after 1960; new photography, video media, architecture and design galleries including original renderings by

, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Bruce Goff; temporary exhibition space; shops and classrooms; and a cafe. In addition, the Nichols Bridgeway connects a sculpture garden on the roof of the new wing with the adjacent

Millennium Park Millennium Park is a public park located in the Chicago Loop, Loop Community areas of Chicago, community area of Chicago, operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. The park, opened in July 2004, is a prominent civic center near t ...

to the north and a courtyard designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol. In 2009, the Modern Wing won at the Chicago Innovation Awards.

Governance

Directors

* William M. R. French (1885–1914) * Newton Carpenter (1914–1916) * George Eggers (1918–1921) * Robert Harshe (1921–1938) * Daniel Catton Rich (1938–1958) * Allen McNab (1956–1965) * Charles Cunningham (1965–1972) * E. Laurence Chalmers (1972–1986) * James N. Wood (1980–2004) * James Cuno (2004–2011) * Douglas Druick (2011–2016) * James Rondeau (2016–present)

Attendance

During 2009, attendance was around 2 million—up 33 percent from 2008—in addition to a total of approximately 100,000 museum memberships. Despite a 25 percent boost in museum admission fees, the Modern Wing was a major catalyst for a rise in visitor traffic. In 2022, the museum welcomed 1.04 million visitors, an increase of 20 percent from 2021, but still well below 2018 attendance (before the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

pandemic). It was ranked tenth among the most-visited museums in the United States, and was the sixth most-visited U.S. art museum.

Finances

Art Institute of Chicago Michigan Avenue

As of 2011, the Art Institute continues to rebuild its $783 million endowment since the

recession In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction that occurs when there is a period of broad decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be tr ...

. In June 2008, its endowment was $827 million. As of 2012, the museum is rated A1 by Moody's, its fifth-highest grade, in part reflecting the museum's pension and retirement liabilities;

Standard & Poor's S&P Global Ratings (previously Standard & Poor's and informally known as S&P) is an American credit rating agency (CRA) and a division of S&P Global that publishes financial research and analysis on stocks, bonds, and commodities. S&P is co ...

rates the museum A+, fifth-best. In October 2012, the Art Institute sold about $100 million of taxable and tax-exempt bonds partly to shore-up unfunded pension obligations. The $294 million extension in 2009 was the culmination of a $385 million fundraising campaign—roughly $300 million for design and construction and $85 million for the endowment. Around $370 million were raised primarily from private patrons in Chicago. In 2011, the Art Institute received a $10 million gift from the Jaharis Family Foundation to renovate and expand galleries devoted to Greek, Roman and Byzantine art, and to support acquisitions and special exhibitions of that art. In 2016 the Art Institute received a $35 million gift from Dorothy Braude Edinburg, a longtime supporter.

Acquisitions and deaccessioning

In 1990, the Art Institute of Chicago sold 11 works at auction, including paintings by

, Maurice Utrillo and Edgar Degas, to raise the $12 million purchase price of a bronze sculpture, ''Golden Bird'', by Constantin Brâncuși. At the time, the sculpture was owned by the Arts Club of Chicago, which was selling it to buy a new gallery for its other works. In 2005, the museum sold two paintings by

Marc Chagall Marc Chagall (born Moishe Shagal; – 28 March 1985) was a Russian and French artist. An early modernism, modernist, he was associated with the School of Paris, École de Paris, as well as several major art movement, artistic styles and created ...

and Pierre-Auguste Renoir at

Sotheby's Sotheby's ( ) is a British-founded multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine art, fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, an ...

. In 2011, it auctioned two Picassos (''Sur l'impériale traversant la Seine'' (1901) and ''Verre et pipe'' (1919)),

's (1919), and Georges Braque's (1938) at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, and it has additional salerooms in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Milan, Geneva, Shan ...

in London.

Controversies

Management of investments dispute

In 2002, the Art Institute of Chicago filed suit alleging fraud by a small Dallas firm called Integral Investment Management, along with related parties. The museum, which put $43 million of its endowment into funds run by the defendants, claimed that it faced losses of up to 90% on the investments after they soured.

Construction disputes

In 2010, the year after the opening of its massive Modern Wing, the Art Institute of Chicago sued the engineering firm

Ove Arup Sir Ove Nyquist Arup (16 April 1895 – 5 February 1988) was an English engineer who founded Arup Group Limited, a multinational corporation offering engineering, design, planning, project management, and consultant, consulting services for bu ...

for $10 million over what it said were flaws in the

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

floors and air-circulation systems. The suit was settled out of court.

Docent program diversity dispute

In 2021, the Art Institute ended its unpaid volunteer docents program to move to a paid model. The ''Chicago Tribune'' editorial page criticized the Institute's letter announcing the change and the move to a new model, arguing that " ce you cut through the blather, the letter basically said the museum had looked critically at its corps of docents, a group dominated by mostly (but not entirely) white, retired women with some time to spare, and found them wanting as a demographic." The Chair of the Institute's Board of Trustees, Robert M. Levy, responded in a ''Tribune'' op-ed supporting the change, and described the ''Tribune'''s editorial as having "numerous inaccuracies and mischaracterizations", noted that the docent program had already been largely on pause for the past 15 months due to the COVID pandemic, and argued that the decision was not about anyone's identity, it was in keeping with changing modern museum practices around the world. Following a volunteerism surge in the late 1940s, the program had been created in 1961 to revitalize and expand "programming for children." Among other matters, since 2014 the program had been trying to attract a more diverse socioeconomic perspective set of art-tour guides, given the unpaid time commitment needed.

Contested objects

In 1996, heirs to Jewish art collectors Louise and Friedrich Gutmann, who died in Nazi concentration camps, sued museum trustee Daniel Searle for the return of the Edgar Degas painting, ''Landscape with Smokestacks,'' which had been on loan to the Art Institute of Chicago''.'' After years of litigation a settlement was concluded which involved the acquisition of the painting by the Art Institute. A collection of approximately 500 objects from

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

, India and elsewhere in Asia that was donated to the Art Institute by trustee Marilynn Alsdorf in 1989; certain objects from this collection have been contested. In 2000, the Art Institute reached a settlement agreement with the heirs of Federico Gentili di Guiseppe concerning a restitution claim for a 17th century sculpture by Francesco Mochi sculpture. In 2001, the heirs of Holocaust victim Max Silberberg reached a settlement agreement concerning Gustav Courbet's ''The Rock in Hautepierre.'' The Art Institute had acquired the Courbet from the dealer Paul Rosenberg in 1967. In 2023, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office moved to seize Egon Schiele paintings from several museums on the grounds that they had been looted by the Nazis from Fritz Grünbaum, who was killed in the

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

. The paintings included, ''Russian War Prisoner,'' a watercolor in the Art Institute. The Art Institute continues to hold the work, as it is contesting the seizure in court. According to its investigation, it acquired the watercolor drawing in 1966 from an American art dealer through a proper provenance from Grünbaum's legal heir, and it also argues that the claim is time-barred because Grünbaum's heirs were aware. In February 2024, the Manhattan District Attorney filed a motion accusing the Art Institute of "blatantly ignoring evidence of an elaborate fraud undertaken to conceal that the artwork had been looted". According to ''The New York Times'', the court filing provided detailed evidence that provenance documents provided by the Swiss art dealer Eberhard W. Kornfeld contained forged signatures or were altered long after he came into possession of the paintings and sold them to other art dealers in the mid-1950s; however, the Art Institute disputed this claim. Court hearings on the matter took place in 2024.

Provenance research and returns

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of a small number of museums in the United States with a dedicated Provenance Research Department. Formally established in 2020, the department conducts provenance research across the entire collection, as well as for acquisitions and loans.

Thai pilaster

In June 2024, the Art Institute of Chicago returned a 12th-century sandstone pilaster to Thailand. The artifact, depicting the Hindu deity

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

lifting Mount Govardhana, was originally acquired by the museum in 1967 and believed to be from Angkor, Cambodia. However, provenance research determined that it originated from the Phanom Rung temple in northeastern Thailand. This discovery led to discussions with Thai authorities and the subsequent repatriation of the piece.

Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda

On March 3, 2025, the Art Institute of Chicago announced that it had returned a 12th-century Nepali sculpture, ''Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda'', to the government of Nepal after provenance research confirmed it had been stolen from Guita Bahi in the

Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley (), also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley (, Newar language, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः), National Capital Area, is a bowl-shaped valley located in the Himalayas, Hima ...

. The sculpture, carved from schist, had been on display at the museum since 1997.

In popular culture

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

In '' Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' (1986), the Art Institute of Chicago scene is a quiet, contemplative moment in an otherwise fast-paced film. Ferris Bueller ( Matthew Broderick), his girlfriend Sloane (

Mia Sara Mia Sarapochiello (born June 19, 1967), known professionally as Mia Sara, is an American actress. Her early roles include the soap opera ''All My Children'' (1983) and Ridley Scott's fantasy film ''Legend'' (1985). She gained wide recognition fo ...

), and his best friend Cameron ( Alan Ruck) visit the museum during their day of adventure in Chicago. Set to

The Dream Academy The Dream Academy was a British Indie pop, alternative pop band consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist and primary songwriter Nick Laird-Clowes, woodwinds player and pianist Kate St John, and keyboardist Gilbert Gabriel. The band is most no ...

's instrumental cover of '' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want'', the sequence showcases some of the museum's most famous artworks. The trio walks hand in hand through the museum's grand halls before pausing to admire iconic pieces. Ferris and Sloane share a tender moment in front of

's ''America Windows'', while Cameron becomes mesmerized by Georges Seurat's ''A Sunday on La Grande Jette''. As the camera zooms in on the small painted dots, Cameron's gaze intensifies, reflecting his growing existential crisis. The scene, devoid of dialogue, serves as a moment of reflection. Ferris and Sloane embrace, reinforcing their carefree love, while Cameron, often plagued by self-doubt, appears lost in thought. His fixation on the Seurat painting subtly foreshadows his later emotional breakdown. Director John Hughes, a Chicago native, has said this sequence was a love letter to the museum, emphasizing art's ability to move and transform individuals. The scene stands out in the film for its quiet beauty, offering a moment of introspection amid the comedic chaos of Ferris's day off. Hughes' commentary on the sequence was used as a reference point by journalist Hadley Freeman in a discussion of the Republican presidential primary candidates in 2011.

Masterpiece

The 1970

Parker Brothers Parker Brothers (known as Parker outside of North America) was an American toy and game manufacturer which in 1991 became a brand of Hasbro. More than 1,800 games were published under the Parker Brothers name since 1883. It remained family owne ...

board game

Masterpiece A masterpiece, , or ; ; ) is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, skill, profundity, or workmanship. Historically, ...

features paintings from the Art Institute of Chicago's collection. The game, designed for players to bid on and trade famous artworks while attempting to avoid forgeries, includes reproductions of several iconic works housed in the museum. Notable paintings featured in the game include Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Vincent van Gogh's The Bedroom, and Grant Wood's American Gothic. The game was one of the first major board games to introduce fine art to a mainstream audience in an interactive format. By using real paintings from the Art Institute's collection, Masterpiece played a role in exposing a broader public to well-known artworks. The game remains a nostalgic classic and has been reissued multiple times with different artwork selections, but the original 1970 edition is closely associated with the Art Institute of Chicago's holdings.

References

External links

*
Art Institute's Impressionistic collection
on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

Virtual tour of the Art Institute of Chicago
provided by Google Arts & Culture {{DEFAULTSORT:Art Institute Of Chicago 1879 establishments in Illinois African art museums in the United States Art museums and galleries in Chicago Art museums and galleries in Illinois Art museums and galleries established in 1879 Asian art museums in the United States Central Chicago Institutions accredited by the American Alliance of Museums Museums of American art Tourist attractions along U.S. Route 66 Tourist attractions in Chicago Cultural institutions and organizations in Chicago Arts organizations based in Illinois

History

19th century

20th century

21st century

Collection

African Art and Indian Art of the Americas

American art

Ancient and Byzantine

Architecture and Design

Asian art

European Decorative Arts

European painting and sculptures

Modern and Contemporary Art

Photography

Prints and Drawings

Textiles

Selections from the permanent collection

Paintings

Sculptures

More highlights from the collection

Architecture

Libraries

Modern Wing

Governance

Directors

Attendance

Finances

Acquisitions and deaccessioning

Controversies

Management of investments dispute

Construction disputes

Docent program diversity dispute

Contested objects

Provenance research and returns

Thai pilaster

Buddha Sheltered by the Serpent King Muchalinda

In popular culture

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Masterpiece

See also

References

External links