09/01/2026
The Glittering World: Europe from the Outside In
All three generations of the Haggin family who helped shape the Museum's collection spent time in Europe, immersing themselves in its rich cultural life. In 1888, Louis and Blanche Butterworth Haggin left San Francisco for Paris, where they would spend two transformative years. It was an exciting moment in the city's history. The Eiffel Tower was rising above the skyline as the centerpiece of the upcoming Universal Exposition, and Paris was alive with artistic innovation, intellectual exchange, and international glamour. The Haggins embraced it all, moving in circles that included diplomats, artists, writers, and cultural leaders.
At the time, Paris was the epicenter of a passionate debate about the future of art. Some artists remained committed to the traditions of the prestigious School of Fine Arts, while others challenged convention with bold new approaches that reflected the rapidly changing modern world. The Haggins developed an appreciation for both perspectives, collecting works rooted in academic tradition alongside paintings that captured the excitement and experimentation of a new era.
Today, their collection offers a window into this pivotal period in European art and culture, when tradition and innovation existed side by side. Visit the Haggin Museum to explore these remarkable works and the world that inspired them.
Pictured: Fontainebleau Forest by Narcisse-Virgile Diaz de la Pena, 1877, Haggin Museum Collection.
