The Layton Collection

Exhibitions
Eastman Johnson (American, 1824–1906)
The Old Stagecoach, 1871
Oil on canvas
36 1/4 × 60 1/8 in. (92.08 × 152.72 cm)
Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of Frederick Layton L1888.22
Photo credit: John R. Glembin

Overview

  • Ongoing

  • S205

  • Free for Members

  • Included with admission

In 1888, local businessman Frederick Layton built a gallery downtown to showcase his collection of mostly 19th-century European and American paintings. The Layton Art Gallery was his gift to the people of Milwaukee—and a founding institution of the Milwaukee Art Museum. That original building is long gone, but objects from Layton’s collection continue to be featured throughout the Museum’s galleries. Over the years, the Layton Art Collection has grown alongside the Museum, and its history and holdings remain integral to the story of the city.

Take a closer look at Layton’s legacy. Explore all the works in the collection, find Layton objects on view in the galleries (and across the globe!), track the collection’s development through time, and more.

Layton Collection highlights

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Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910), Hark! The Lark, 1882

Oil on canvas. Image: 36 3/8 × 31 3/8 in. (92.39 × 79.69 cm); framed: 47 7/8 × 43 × 4 5/8 in. (121.6 × 109.2 × 11.7 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of Frederick Layton, L99
Photo credit: John R. Glembin

Winslow Homer, Hark! The Lark, 1882

Lawrence Alma-Tadema (English, b. Netherlands, 1836–1912), A Roman Amateur (or A Roman Art Lover), 1870

Oil on wood panel. Image: 29 × 39 1/2 in. (73.66 × 100.33 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of the following Layton Art Gallery Trustees, plus Layton funds, between 1892–96: George Dickens, Frederick Layton, William Plankinton, B.K. Miller, Samuel Marshall, J.H. Van Dyke, L149
Photo credit: John R. Glembin

Lawrence Alma-Tadema, A Roman Amateur (or A Roman Art Lover), 1870

Jules Bastien-Lepage (French, 1848–1884), Le Père Jacques (The Wood Gatherer), 1881

Oil on canvas. Image: 77 1/2 × 71 1/2 in. (196.85 × 181.61 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of Mrs. E. P. Allis and her daughters in memory of Edward Phelps Allis, L102
Photo credit: John R. Glembin

Jules Bastien-Lepage, Le Père Jacques (The Wood Gatherer), 1881

Thomas Cole (American, b. England, 1801–1848), Storm in the Wilderness, 1826–28

Oil on canvas. Image: 25 1/8 × 35 3/16 in. (63.82 × 89.38 cm); framed: 35 7/8 × 46 1/8 × 4 3/4 in. (91.12 × 117.16 × 12.07 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Purchase, L1968.25
Photo credit: Larry Sanders

Thomas Cole, Storm in the Wilderness, 1826–28

Eastman Johnson (American, 1824–1906), The Old Stagecoach, 1871

Oil on canvas. Image: 36 1/4 × 60 1/8 in. (92.08 × 152.72 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of Frederick Layton, L1888.22
Photo credit: John R. Glembin

Eastman Johnson, The Old Stagecoach, 1871

James Tissot (French, 1836–1902), London Visitors, 1874

Oil on canvas. Image: 34 1/4 × 24 3/4 in. (87 × 62.87 cm); framed: 47 1/2 × 38 × 6 in. (120.65 × 96.52 × 15.24 cm). Layton Art Collection, Inc., Gift of Frederick Layton, L1888.14

James Tissot, London Visitors, 1874

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Learn about the history of Frederick Layton and the Layton collection.

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Past Layton Focus Exhibitions

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Presenting Sponsor

  • The Layton Art Collection, Inc.