10th May, 2024
The Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh is housed in an exquisite building that itself is a work of art, combining Beaux-Arts and modern architectural styles. This architectural blend reflects the museum's philosophy of bridging the classic with the contemporary.
Founded in 1895 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, the museum was one of the first in the United States to focus primarily on contemporary art. Carnegie's vision was to create a museum where "the old masters of tomorrow" would be collected, encouraging and showcasing contemporary artists.
The museum boasts a diverse and expansive collection, including over 30,000 objects across fine art, decorative art, design, and architecture. Highlights include European and American paintings from the 19th century, significant Japanese prints, and extensive holdings in American and European decorative arts.
A unique feature of the museum is its Hall of Architecture, which contains one of the largest collections of plaster casts of architectural masterpieces in the country. This includes casts of parts of buildings, allowing visitors to appreciate details of world-famous structures up close.
The Carnegie Museum of Art is renowned for the Carnegie International, one of the oldest and most prestigious international contemporary art exhibitions in North America. Held every four to five years since 1896, the exhibition has introduced U.S. audiences to some of the most influential artists of the last two centuries, including works by Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, and contemporary artists from around the globe.