Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art The Wadsworth is the oldest continuously-operating public art museum in the United States.
(1689)

Happy Father’s Day! Painted by John Trumbull in 1784, this portrait captures more than a family likeness—it celebrates t...
06/21/2026

Happy Father’s Day!

Painted by John Trumbull in 1784, this portrait captures more than a family likeness—it celebrates the legacy passed from Jeremiah Wadsworth to his thirteen-year-old son, Daniel.

The painting reflects a new generation shaped by the American Revolution. Jeremiah served as Commissary General for the Continental Army under George Washington, who visited the Wadsworth family home (the current site of our museum) several times between 1775 and 1789. Daniel inherited his father’s wealth and devoted his life to civic philanthropy while preserving the memory of the Revolution.

👀 On view now in “Framing American Democracy: Radical Roots”.

John Trumbull (American, 1756-1843), “Jeremiah Wadsworth and His Son Daniel Wadsworth”, 1784. Oil on canvas. Gift of Faneuil Adams, 1970.42

Wadsworth Members, don’t miss this special opportunity! On Friday, June 26, Katie Tycz, Interim Richard Koopman Associat...
06/17/2026

Wadsworth Members, don’t miss this special opportunity! On Friday, June 26, Katie Tycz, Interim Richard Koopman Associate Curator of American Decorative Arts, will lead a members-only tour of the newly reinstalled American Decorative Arts galleries.

These bold new spaces contain a wide range of decorative arts objects (furniture, metalwork,
glass, and ceramics), as well as paintings and architectural features that bring to life the material world of the northeastern colonies and the early United States.

11 AM | Registration Required. Please keep an eye on your inbox for registration links. Not a member yet? Explore the perks and join today at TheWadsworth.org/membership.



Born in Maine, Marsden Hartley was intensely private about his personal life and sexuality. While living in Europe in th...
06/16/2026

Born in Maine, Marsden Hartley was intensely private about his personal life and sexuality. While living in Europe in the years before World War I, he reportedly fell in love with a German officer named Karl von Freyburg, whose death deeply affected him. 

Later in life, Hartley turned his attention to painting athletic, working-class young men. In “Down East Young Blades”, three fishermen stand confidently before a backdrop of lobster traps and the Maine coast. In the context of Hartley’s homosexuality, many scholars have interpreted works like this as coded expressions of male attraction at a time when overt depictions of same-sex desire were largely unacceptable. 

More than 80 years later, the painting invites us to consider the many ways LGBTQ+ artists have expressed identity, desire, and connection—even when they could not do so openly. 

Join us for an in-person Queer Art & Artists tour: 
 
🌈 Thursday & Friday, June 25 & 26 | 2pm 
🌈 Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28 | 11am 

Register for the tour at TheWadsworth.org 

Image: Marsden Hartley, (American, 1877-1943), “Down East Young Blades”, c. 1940, Oil on Masonite-type hardboard. Purchased through the Krieble Family Fund, The Douglas Tracy Smith and Dorothy Potter Smith Fund, The Evelyn Bonar Storrs Trust Fund, and The Dorothy Clark Archibald and Thomas L. Archibald Fund. 1999.11.1

American Art Week is almost here! 🇺🇸Join us July 1–5 for a week of curator talks, public programs, film screenings as pa...
06/16/2026

American Art Week is almost here! 🇺🇸

Join us July 1–5 for a week of curator talks, public programs, film screenings as part of the Long Weekend Film Festival, and more.

We’ll kick off the week with a FREE public gathering at C**t Park on Wednesday, July 1, from 12–4pm, featuring an art conversation and walking tour.

Visit TheWadsworth.org and LongWeekendHartford.com for the full schedule and details.

American Art Week is presented in conjunction with Long Weekend Hartford.

⛳ Birdies for Charity is back, and we're excited to share The Wadsworth is participating in the 2026 program! Every dona...
06/15/2026

⛳ Birdies for Charity is back, and we're excited to share The Wadsworth is participating in the 2026 program! Every donation scores us a 15% bonus, thanks to the generosity of Webster Bank and Aetna. That means your donation goes even further in helping us on our mission to honor the past and inspire the future through the power of human creativity. Make a 115% difference today by donating at https://app.partnerhq.com/public/e/2026-travelers-championship-birdies-for-charity/f/nonprofits/285.

Still searching for Father’s Day plans? Join us for Jazz Brunch at The Wadsworth. 🎷🥂 Enjoy live jazz from the Steve Bulm...
06/15/2026

Still searching for Father’s Day plans? Join us for Jazz Brunch at The Wadsworth. 🎷🥂

Enjoy live jazz from the Steve Bulmer Trio alongside Bourassa Catering’s extravagant brunch buffet. Each ticket includes a complimentary Bloody Mary or mimosa, plus admission to the museum.

Sunday, June 21 | Seatings at 11am and 1pm
$49 / $39 members | Kids 12 and under: $39 / $29 members
Tickets at TheWadsworth.org


Jazz Brunches are generously sponsored by the Richard P. Garmany Fund at Greater Hartford Gives.

Image: Bob Thompson, “Garden of Music,” 1960. Oil on canvas. The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 1987.4.

The Wadsworth is both world-class and deeply local—a place where art, education, and community come together every day.F...
06/13/2026

The Wadsworth is both world-class and deeply local—a place where art, education, and community come together every day.

From student tours and family programs to free admission initiatives and exhibitions like “Framing American Democracy”, your generosity helps bring art to life for thousands of visitors each year.

Every gift helps keep the museum accessible and inspiring for all. Give by June 30 at TheWadsworth.org. ❤️

🌊Take a trip to the coast—no passport required.Painted in 1861 during James McNeill Whistler’s stay in northern France, ...
06/12/2026

🌊Take a trip to the coast—no passport required.

Painted in 1861 during James McNeill Whistler’s stay in northern France, this serene beach scene was the artist’s first seascape.

Today, the painting is enjoying a journey of its own, on loan from The Wadsworth ➡️ in London for “James McNeill Whistler” — on view through September 27, 2026.

James Abbott McNeill Whistler (American, 1834-1903), “The Coast of Brittany (Alone with the Tide)”, 1861. Oil on canvas. In Memory of William Arnold Healy, given by his daughter, Susie Healy Camp

Get ready to join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, for Juneteenth Family Day — a day of hands-on artmaking, storytelling,...
06/12/2026

Get ready to join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, for Juneteenth Family Day — a day of hands-on artmaking, storytelling, cultural demonstrations, and interactive learning inspired by African American history and art!

Activities noon–4pm, FREE admission all day!

Looking for more Juneteenth celebrations? 🎉

On Friday June 19, the is hosting the 35th Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration — a joyful evening of live music, dancing, great food, cocktails and community. $175 | Registration Required.

Meet us the next day, Saturday June 20, at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza for the Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration, where live performances, local vendors, and family activities bring a vibrant public celebration of freedom and unity. FREE admission!

Plan your visit at TheWadsworth.org.

On Saturday, June 27, The Arazzo Music Festival, an initiative to build community through musical performance in Connect...
06/12/2026

On Saturday, June 27, The Arazzo Music Festival, an initiative to build community through musical performance in Connecticut, returns to The Wadsworth for its fifth anniversary season finale.

In an exhilarating evening of chamber music, the Callisto Quartet performs string quartets by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), Reena Esmail (b. 1983), and Edvard Grieg (1843–1907).

7pm | Free. Registration required at TheWadsworth.org.

Presented with support from Robert Connell and Michelle Duffy with additional support provided by the Saunders Foundation Endowment for Music and the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation Fund at The Wadsworth.

Address

600 Main Street
Hartford, CT
06103

Opening Hours

Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18602782670

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