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Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum - CLOSED
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
32 Quincy StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
(617) 495-9400
- Nearest Transit:
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Quincy St @ Broadway Opp Fogg Museum (1, 68, 69)
Cambridge St @ Prescott St (69, 72)
Broadway @ Felton St (68, 83)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
27 reviews for Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum
Review Highlights
"From Monet to Van Gogh."
(in 4 reviews)
"...and printmaking, go check out the Prints & Drawings room."
(in 3 reviews)
"...Boston and looking for a great place to spend an afternoon."
(in 3 reviews)
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Emily F.
Newton, MA
6/29/2008
Today was the last day before closing for renovations...so I can rave all I want, but you'll never be able to experience their perfectly modest-sized yet impressive collection as I, and all other reviewers before did. This review is cruel and perverse like that. Still, "Sounds Cool/To Try" it, and in 2013 (the year...yikes) you can see everything again in all its renewed, expanded glory.
As it is/was, it was juuusttt the right size for me to really be able to enjoy everything in one afternoon without getting overwhelmed by pure quantity (read: MFA). Even with a relatively large influx of people coming for closing day, the atmosphere remained relaxed, leaving plenty of physical space for me to sketch out a Matisse sculpture for 15 minutes, ogle the beauty of Rodin's "Eternal Idol," or admire the kind of intimidating Italian alterpieces. I left on an art/creativity high, not burnt-out exhaustion.
The collection really is about quality, boasting pieces created by big names including Monet, Matisse, Degas, Pollock, van Gogh, Picasso, O'Keefe, Sargent, Cezanne...There is also one small room near the entrance with an interesting presentation on pigments, preservation, infrared reflectography, and similar more behind-the-scenes information on how the artwork came to be.
I believe this collection to be incredibly underrated as a "To Do in Boston" thing and seriously, y'all missed out. As detailed in their 'Exhibitions & Programs' guide, they plan to combine all three of their art museums (the Fogg, the Busch-Reisinger, and the Sackler) into one building, add a cafe, expand the museum shop, and improve the bathrooms (which were kinda sketch in the basement...also I was mildly entertained by the "Retrospective of Letterheads" display down there).
2013 is a long ways to go, but they're going to reinstall some works from three museums at their Sackler Museum, projected to reopen to the public around the end of the summer and remain open during renovations. They plan on having a formal opening of these limited galleries in September, which promises to be super artsy-fartsy fun. Sounds Cool? Sounds very cool. -
Review from John W.
Los Angeles, CA
7/20/2007
This may be the finest collection of Impressionist and Modern art in Boston. It contains many famous masterworks: The Rehearsal by Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh's Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gauguin, and Mother and Child by Pablo Picasso. They also have paintings by Jackson Pollack, Rembrandt, Claude Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, and pretty much anybody else you have ever come across in an art history book.
They also have Italian early Renaissance, British pre-Raphaelite, nineteenth-century French art, etc. The Busch-Reisinger collection, a separate gallery within the museum, has an outstanding collection of prints and drawings by artists connected with the Bauhaus and Black Mountain College.
A quarter of the size of the MFA, the Fogg has an impressive collection that is worth a look. Admission is free for Cambridge library cardholders and children under age 18. I think there is free admission on weekends.Listed in: Culture Vultures - boston
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Review from Jane M.
Honolulu, HI
4/10/2008
My main reason to visit the Fogg is the drawing room. From the website:
The Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints Drawings and Photographs is open to the public Tuesday - Friday 2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and on Saturdays, September through May, 10:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
You name it they got it. They have Freuds, Wyeths, Picassos, and even a Michangelo or two, that you can see up close and personal. And even though I'm not a fan of John Singer Sargent, (though I can't deny his talent) they have a number of his journals.
If you are an artist, or have never heard of any of the artist aforementioned a visit is a MUST! If you are in Boston and looking for a great place to spend an afternoon. This is the place to be.
PS. The Fogg is closing for renovation in the Summer of 2008 until possibly 2013. So go visit now, and visit often.Listed in: ART, ART & MORE ART
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Review from Lalin A.
Durham, NC
1/21/2007
Such a beautiful gallery. I actually went there with an appointment to see the favorites, from Manet to Seurat! Unbelievable collection. You can actually call them for special visits! They don't advertise much but they surely do tell if you ask for info.
Btw: Last year's Degas exhibition was incredible. Waiting for the future ones.. -
Review from Kiwi H.
11/16/2007
This is a really lovely museum. True, it does not have the breathtaking architecture of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Yes, it is not overwhelmingly and incredibly vast and filled like the Museum of Fine Arts. No, it does not hold the splendour of places like the Uffizi or the Louvre. But it is still an absolutely lovely museum.
The staff are really nice and friendly. Perhaps this is because on my few visits, I was fortunate enough to go with an art professor of mine - who was truly one of the nicest people I have encountered in my life, and wise too - but I think that they would generally be nice anyway. They let us spend some time in a drawing room, and the hours I spent perusing this place with my art class were among my favourite 'field trips' when I was in university, and inspired me to come back on my own and with friends.
The place is neat and clean, nicely lit, and has a certain cute and cozy charm to it. There are many wonderful pieces by great artists as another reviewer John W. said: Degas (one of my favourites), Van Gogh, Picasso, Pollack, Rembrandt, Monet, Gaugin, Rodin and so much more. I spent so long being fascinated and drawn in by certain pieces that I didn't even realize how much time had gone by. I know it sounds corny, but sometimes you just gain an incredible sense of peace inside when you envelope and lose your thoughts in a wonderful piece of art.
This is apparently the oldest of Harvard's art museums, and I don't think I have to worry about it sticking around. If you're at all into Impressionist and post-Impressionist art, or just want to visit a charming small-ish museum full of beautiful pieces, it is definitely worth a visit, or many.Listed in: Hibernation, sort of
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Review from Matthew A.
Salem, NH
4/16/2007
A hidden gem. If you love art you will love this gallery. I was so surprised at the gems hidden in here. From Monet to Van Gogh. Tons of Italian Renaissance pieces. 50's German pop art was strange. Only like $9 to get in and free on Sundays.
What I really enjoyed is that there was very little people there so I could really enjoy the pieces without being run over by herds of intruders, like at the MFA. -
Review from Alexandra L.
Somerville, MA
2/14/2006
I am a fan - particuarly enjoy the American Art post-1950's collection .... lov e the courtyard when you first enter and if you are lucky enough to know a member/Friends of the Harvard Art Museums they have two gorgeous galas.
There is nothing more beautiful than being in this and the other HUAMs in the evening!Listed in: Art 101: Boston Style
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Review from Laura M.
2/19/2007
A really lovely art museum. Not surprisingly, Harvard has a pretty nice art collection, ranging from some really old wooden panels salvaged from medieval churches to modern art. I enjoyed the little display they had on how people made paints back in the 1400s, with little vials of mineral dust to show the different colors. That was the scientist in me.
There is an impressive collection of French impressionists, many works by artists whose names you'll recognize. Some lovely sculpture by Rodin, as well. Currently there's a room dedicated to Rubens, including a really disturbing vision of Leda and the Swan.
The exhibit on the ground floor called Dissent! features the use of printmaking as rebellion throughout history, right up to posters and t-shirts criticizing the Bush administration.
You should definitely check it out. $9 general admission gets you into the Fogg, the Sackler across the street (ancient art, Asian art, Islamic art), and the small Busch-Reisinger museum attached to the Fogg (German and Eastern European artists, including an awesome Klimt).Listed in: Culture Club
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Review from A A.
New York, NY
11/4/2007
Only the first 2 floors are open. The Kara Walker exhibit, though smaller than I imagined, was by far my favorite part. Go see it before it closes. If you go on Saturday before noon, it's free so there's a nice bit for people on a budget.
I sincerely enjoy going to museums and spent a great deal of time in one as a grad student but I found this one boring. I haven't taken an art-related class since middle school so I don't know how to describe why it is boring. It's the sort of thing where you feel like if you've seen one, you've seen them all. I have a greater appreciate for the other museums I've visited after seeing this one.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Meghan Q.
Cambridge, MA
3/4/2008
The Fogg offers just enough amazing viewing for an afternoon jaunt so you won't need to set aside a whole day to enjoy this beautiful collection. From Renaissance to Abstract Expressionism, the Fogg has something for every taste to enjoy. If you have the ability to view their print collection I suggest you take the opportunity!
It's never very crowded which allows you to truely savor the tranquil atmosphere and spent as much time as you'd like soaking in your favorite work. -
Review from Jessica R.
Somerville, MA
7/12/2005 2 photos
Like the Gardner Museum, the Fogg is also centered around an Italian Renaissance style courtyard. The Fogg has a large collection of Western art from the middle ages until modern times. They have a pretty good selection of Picasso and French Impressionism if you are into that sort of thing.
Free admission on sundays!
http://www.artmuseums.... -
Review from Jennafir O.
Allston, MA
1/31/2009
It probably doesn't help that I went after the museum has closed for renovations, so I didn't see everything great about it. What they did have was nice though. I especially enjoyed the collection on symbolic art. I always enjoy finding the hidden meanings. I enjoyed how they explained the art as well, the snippits weren't just about the artist, but the painting itself. Or it provided fun facts, like how a guy died from too much sex. That always leads to a chuckle in the museum. The durer was also fabulous to look at. I can't complain. it's free before 12 on Saturdays, so it was a nice way to spend my morning.
I enjoyed this more then more than a few of the other museums in boston, even if the collection was small. -
Review from Bryan H.
New York, NY
8/23/2007
My visit today left me a bit disappointed. My girlfriend and I found ourselves with an afternoon free after the American Chemical Society convention and decided to visit Cambridge and the Fogg and Sackler museums at Harvard.
My disappointment stems from the fact that almost half of the galleries at the Sackler and one at the Fogg museum were closed. We were able to see almost every open exhibit in under 2 hours and 45 minutes. I had hoped to make a full afternoon of it but we simply ran out of things to see.
In addition one of the curators at the Sackler museum saw fit to admonish me for 'excessive pointing' at the paintings. Apparently one must maintain 2 feet of separation from the works and refrain from any sudden movements when pointing out a detail of a carving or painting. Right.
Overall, what works we could see were interesting and in good condition. I especially enjoyed the Sketches in Clay exhibit at the Fogg museum.
Personally I didn't feel as though I got my $9 worth. If the galleries had been open and I wasn't treated like a naughty child by the staff this might have been different. -
Review from jess h.
Watertown, MA
10/6/2008
As many other people have already said, this place really is a nice little museum - you don't have to fight your way through crowds of people like you do at the MFA sometimes, and they have a lovely collection full of artists that your grandmother has probably heard of.
It's only $9 to get in, and this also gets you into the Sackler museum across the street so it's a really good deal. Plus, if your buddy is a Harvard student they can get you in for free!
If you're into drawing and printmaking, go check out the Prints & Drawings room! You look through a book, tell them which prints you want to see, and they bring them out for you! Amazing. Where else do you have an art collection at your fingertips like that? They have everything from Bauhaus documents to Kathe Kollwitz' lithographs, right there for your up-close viewing pleasure. It's really too bad the museum won't be open again until 2013. -
Review from Tom E.
8/29/2008
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Review from H Y.
Boulder, CO
2/8/2007
Best-kept secret in the Boston/Cambridge area. Best feature is the ability to check out drawings as part of your admission. Just ask and they pull them out for you to study or drool (not literally) over. If you want to see what artistic process is about look at the drawings that led to the paintings and sculptures.
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Review from Ted K.
East Watertown, MA
2/8/2007
The small room with the Blue Picasso is one of the best rooms in the country.
Most local libraries offer free passes for the Fogg. -
Review from annie k.
Los Angeles, CA
2/14/2006
A modest collection of highest-caliber art in a lovely setting. Not much appeal unless you're an art lover or a Harvard student (i.e. don't go in lieu of the MFA), but remarkable nonetheless.
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Review from Ellie L.
New York, NY
7/28/2005
You want to hold your breath it's so peaceful and perfect here...the space is as interesting as the pieces within. Check out Max Beckmann's self portrait, and the sculptures that subtly line the corridors. the Fogg museum is a mostly undiscovered gem, and the perfect way to spend an afternoon. nice range of work, from the well-known to the more esoteric.
Listed in: Bring Your Headphones and…
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Review from Crystal K.
Cambridge, MA
8/22/2005
I met my husband here so it will always hold a very special place in my heart. It's a really wonderful gem of a museum with a great collection overall. They change some of the collections around on a regular basis so it never gets old. Not only is the museum itself gorgeous and peaceful but the art is impressive--ranging from both old masters to new.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Sandra C.
Boston, MA
7/14/2005
Small museum with an impressive collection e.g. Van Gogh. I visited this place at a function where they rented out the whole museum and you could walk around looking at painting with a glass of wine and desserts. Awesome!
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Review from Heather B.
Watertown, MA
7/26/2006
You don't have to cross the river to spend an afternoon with great art!Amazing... small, totally accesible and ridiculously affordable. I need to get here more often and missed a Degas exhibition last year... a true gem nestled in Harvard Square.
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Review from Geoff T.
Somerville, MA
8/24/2005
A great little museum. It doesn't have that overly stuffy feeling some of the bigger ones do, but the art is no less impressive. A nice place for a date, especially because there are some good restaurants nearby. Go on sundays to get in for free!
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Review from Anna S.
Cambridge, MA
11/24/2006
This place is one of Harvard's hidden treasure. In fact, it is funny because whenever i mention the Fogg Art museum people automatically ask how far on the t it is. Let me tell you- three stops from alewife, two from davis, one from porter and if you live a block away from Harvard like me, this place is basically in your backyard. And a wonderful place to go and admire beautiful artwork. In addition, the free admission on sundays is definately something to take advantage of.
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Review from Toni L.
3/21/2008 2 photos
The Fogg feels like a highly edited major metropolitan art museum, and by highly edited, I mean containing only the best out there. The first floor contains many Byzantine religious iconographic pieces, French column capitals, and Flemish realist paintings/drawings. As if bridging the ages, the staircase acts as a portal to more modern works. The second floor contains items ranging from impressionist pieces to modern photography. Some of the more famous pieces I saw there include Jean-Auguste-Dominique's Odalisque and Her Slave, a small painting by Mark Rothko, a piece from Picasso's blue period, and a piece from the infamous Cezanne fruit + jug + jar series. The building itself is beautiful as well, offering views of the atrium and one of the exhibit halls from the second floor. Since the museum is rather small, I feel as if it cannot offer an experience as memorable as the Getty where simply going to the museum is a treat in itself. If you have the chance, stop by the Fogg. There's a lot of history inside.
Listed in: Museums
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Review from Lover of C.
New York, NY
10/28/2008
Beautiful, serene, place in the middle of the bustling city. I think it is a steal for the price.
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Review from Dana S.
Park Ridge, IL
5/27/2008
The Maurice Wertheim collection is beyond awesome. All the great artists Monet , Renoir , Picasso all in one room. There works aren't the normal representations. Monet is of trains, Picasso is a painting that looks like a little girl. The Sad part is the Fogg will be closing May30- Sept 30 2008 ans only some of the collections will be able to be viewed over the next 5 years. (renovations) so call ahead to see what is available. the web site is being revamped too.
