Art Institute of Chicago
Established	1879; in present location since 1893
Location	111 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, USA
Visitor figures	1,441,000 (2006)
Director	James Cuno
Website	www.artic.edu/aic

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's premier fine art museums. Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east (except for one private block that runs at 125 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Fine art is any Art form developed primarily for Aesthetics rather than Utility. Located adjacent to Chicago, Illinois's Loop and Grant Park, the Museum is especially known for its extensive collection of Impressionist and American art. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Population According to the 2000 Census, 16388 people live in the Loop Impressionism was a 19th-century Art movement that began as a loose association of Paris -based Artists exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s It also boasts an extensive collection of old master works, which have gained the museum an international reputation. " Old Master " (or " old master " is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such It is located on the western edge of Grant Park, at 111 South Michigan Avenue in the Chicago Landmark Historic Michigan Boulevard District; the museum and grounds were designed by the Boston firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge (1892). Grant Park (originally named Lake Park is a large Park (319 acres or 1 Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east (except for one private block that runs at 125 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East Shepley Rutan and Coolidge was a successful Architecture firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, operating between 1886 and 1915 with extensive commissions It is the third most popular cultural attraction in Chicago. ^[1]

The Art Institute of Chicago Building was originally constructed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition as the World's Congress Auxiliary Building, with the intent that the Art Institute occupy the space after the fair closed. The World's Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago World's Fair) a World's Fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary The museum is also associated with School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's premiere fine arts colleges located in Chicago, Illinois.

The Museum’s Collection

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges-Pierre Seurat

Nighthawks by Edward Hopper

Today, the museum is most famous for its collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and American paintings. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte - 1884 ( Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte - 1884) is Georges Seurat 's most famous Georges-Pierre Seurat ( December 2, 1859  &ndash March 29, 1891) was a French painter and Draftsman. Nighthawks ( 1942) is a painting by Edward Hopper that portrays people sitting in a downtown Diner late at night Edward Hopper ( July 22, 1882 &ndash May 15, 1967) was an American painter and Printmaker. Post-Impressionism is the term coined by the British artist and Art critic Roger Fry in 1910 to describe the development of French art since Manet. Included in the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection are more than 30 paintings by Claude Monet, including six of his Haystacks and a number of Water Lilies. Claude Monet ( French klod mɔnɛ also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet (14 November 1840 &ndash 5 December 1926 was a founder Haystacks is the title of a series of impressionist Paintings by Claude Monet. Water Lilies (or Nympheas) is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings by French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926 Important works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, such as Two Sisters (On the Terrace), as well as Paul Cézanne’s The Bathers, The Basket of Apples, and Madame Cézanne in a Yellow Chair, are in the collection. Pierre-Auguste Renoir ( February 25, 1841 &ndash December 3, 1919) was a French Artist who was a leading painter in The Basket of Apples is a Still life oil painting by French artist Paul Cézanne. At the Moulin Rouge, by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is another highlight, as are Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and Gustave Caillebotte’s Paris Street; Rainy Day. At the Moulin Rouge is an oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (ɑ̃ʁi dø tuluz loˈtʁɛk (24 November 1864 &ndash 9 September 1901 was a French painter, printmaker, draftsman Georges-Pierre Seurat ( December 2, 1859  &ndash March 29, 1891) was a French painter and Draftsman. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte - 1884 ( Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte - 1884) is Georges Seurat 's most famous Gustave Caillebotte ( August 19, 1848 &ndash February 21, 1894) was a French painter, member and patron of the group Paris Street Rainy Day (also known as Paris A Rainy Day) is an 1877 oil painting by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte. Non-French paintings completing the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection include Vincent Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles and Self-portrait, 1887. Bedroom in Arles ( French: La Chambre à Arles; Dutch: Slaapkamer te Arles) is the title given to each of three similar paintings Among the most important works of the American collection are Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Grant DeVolson Wood ( February 13, 1891 &ndash February 12, 1942) was an American painter, born in Anamosa, American Gothic is a Painting by Grant Wood from 1930 Portraying a Pitchfork -holding farmer and a younger woman (imagined to be his Edward Hopper ( July 22, 1882 &ndash May 15, 1967) was an American painter and Printmaker. Nighthawks ( 1942) is a painting by Edward Hopper that portrays people sitting in a downtown Diner late at night

The museum has much more than paintings, however. In the basement are the Thorne Rooms, which contain exact miniatures demonstrating American, European, and Asian architectural and furniture styles. Architectural styles classify Architecture in terms of Form, techniques, Materials, time period region etc Also in the basement are galleries displaying its world-class photography collection. On the main floor is the George F. Harding collection of arms and armor reflecting armaments and armor throughout the Medieval period and Renaissance. A weapon is a Tool used either in Hunting, or attack or defence in Combat for the purpose of subduing enemy personnel or to destroy enemy weapons Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere A fine collection of Pre-Columbian Meso-American ceramic figures is another outstanding display. A special feature of the museum is the Touch Gallery. Five portrait sculptures, including Joan of Arc, are ready for exploration. The American Decorative Arts galleries contain furniture pieces designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles and Ray Eames. Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8 1867 &ndash April 9 1959 was an American (of Welsh descent Architect, Interior designer, Writer, and educator who Charles (1907-1978 and Ray (1912–1988 Eames (ˈiːmz were American designers married in 1941 who worked and made major contributions in many fields of design The Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman galleries hold the mummy and mummy case of Paankhenamun, as well as several gold and silver coins.

Modern Art Wing

The Museum is in the midst of a major expansion to create a new Modern Art Wing to house its modern art collection. The structure, designed by Renzo Piano and scheduled to open to the public in 2009, will include a bridge connecting the top floor of the new wing with the popular Millennium Park to the north. Renzo Piano (born September 14 1937) is a world renowned Italian Millennium Park is a public Park located in the Chicago Loop community area of Chicago within, United States. The addition will also include a courtyard designed by Gustafson Guthrie Nichol.

The Art Institute hopes that the new addition will draw added attention to its 20th Century collections, which include such important paintings as Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Henri Matisse’s Bathers by a River, and René Magritte’s Time Transfixed. Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso (October 25 1881 &ndash April 8 1973 The Old Guitarist is a painting by Pablo Picasso, painted in 1903 just after the suicide death of Picasso's close friend Casagemas Henri Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954 was a French Artist, known for his use of Colour and his fluid brilliant and original draughtsmanship René François Ghislain Magritte ( 21 November 1898 - 15 August 1967) was a Belgian Surrealist artist Time Transfixed ( La Durée poignardée) (1938 is a painting by the Belgian painter René Magritte. The curators of the museum believe that its modern collections are on par with the best in the world, "comparable only to those of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Pompidou Centre in Paris. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, USA, on 53rd Street between Fifth Centre Georges Pompidou (constructed 1971–1977 and known as the Pompidou Centre in English) is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement "^[2] They also note that "No other encyclopedic museum in the United States or any other country has collections of modern and contemporary art to rival those of the Art Institute. " The modern collection, they concede, has been overshadowed in the past by the Art Institutes extraordinary 19th century collection. Due to this major renovation, many of the Art Institutes signature pieces within their collection will be temporarily taken off view until the opening of the Modern Wing in 2009.

"Burnham Library" - Founded 1912

The Terra Collection

Since April 2005, approximately fifty paintings originally from the Terra Museum’s (now the Terra Foundation) collection have been on loan to the Department of American Art at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). The Terra Museum of American Art in Chicago, Illinois founded by Daniel J The collections of the Terra and the Art Institute are located in a new suite of galleries, and together provide one of the nation’s most comprehensive presentations of American art. Sculpture of the United States Visual arts of the United States refers to the history of Painting and Visual art in the United States. The foundation’s collection of American works on paper are housed in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the Art Institute.

The Art Institute Building

Art Institute of Chicago Building North Lion

Main article: Art Institute of Chicago Building

The current building at 111 South Michigan Avenue is third address for the Art Institute. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of Boston, Massachusetts. ^[3]

The Art Institute's famous western entrance on Michigan Avenue is guarded by two bronze lion statues created by Edward L. Kemeys. Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east (except for one private block that runs at 125 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. Edward L Kemeys ( January 31, 1843 &ndash May 11, 1907) was an American sculptor The sculptor gave them unofficial names: the south lion is "stands in an attitude of defiance," and the north lion is "on the prowl. " When a Chicago sports team makes the playoffs, the lions are frequently dressed in that team’s uniform. Evergreen wreaths are placed around their necks during the Christmas season. Just inside the eastern doors is a reconstruction of the trading room of the old Chicago Stock Exchange. The Chicago Stock Exchange ( CHX) is a Chicago -based Stock exchange. Designed by Louis Sullivan in 1894, the Exchange was torn down in 1972. Louis Henri Sullivan (September 4 1856 &ndash April 14 1924 was an American Architect, and has been called the "father of modernism. Year 1894 ( MDCCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Salvaged portions of the original room were brought to the Art Institute and reconstructed. Leaving the Art Institute through the east doors at the end of the driveway is the Stock Exchange entrance.

The Art Institute building has the unusual property of straddling open-air railroad tracks. The east and west buildings of the museum are separated by the tracks used by the Metra Electric Line and South Shore Line. Metra (officially known as the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation) is a Regional rail system that serves the city of Chicago Illinois The Metra Electric Line ( ME) is an electrified Commuter rail line owned and operated by Metra, connecting Millennium Station (formerly History Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway The oldest predecessor of the line was the Chicago and Indiana Air Line Railway, chartered on December 2 While a windowless gallery connects the two buildings, a glass atrium on the south side of the west building allows museumgoers to look down at the passing commuter trains.

The Museum is overseen by President James Cuno.

External links

• The Art Institute of Chicago
• The Art Institute of Chicago : collections
• The Terra Foundation For American Art
• A Visitor's Experience: The Art Institute of Chicago (myArmoury. com article)

Gallery

Self-portrait by Vincent Van Gogh	Bedroom in Arles by Vincent Van Gogh	Paris Street; Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte	Wheatstacks (End of Summer) by Claude Monet
Water Lilies by Claude Monet	The Basket of Apples by Paul Cézanne	St. Vincent van Gogh created many Self-portraits during his lifetime Bedroom in Arles ( French: La Chambre à Arles; Dutch: Slaapkamer te Arles) is the title given to each of three similar paintings Paris Street Rainy Day (also known as Paris A Rainy Day) is an 1877 oil painting by the French artist Gustave Caillebotte. Gustave Caillebotte ( August 19, 1848 &ndash February 21, 1894) was a French painter, member and patron of the group Haystacks is the title of a series of impressionist Paintings by Claude Monet. Claude Monet ( French klod mɔnɛ also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet (14 November 1840 &ndash 5 December 1926 was a founder Water Lilies (or Nympheas) is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings by French Impressionist Claude Monet (1840-1926 Claude Monet ( French klod mɔnɛ also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet (14 November 1840 &ndash 5 December 1926 was a founder The Basket of Apples is a Still life oil painting by French artist Paul Cézanne. Joan, a tactile statue for the blind and children	Armor

See also

• Logan Medal of the arts
• Looptopia
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Notes