Now Representing: Corcoran Gallery of Art

Founded by William Wilson Corcoran, the Corcoran Gallery of Art opened its doors in January, 1874 with an exhibition of 98 works. Today, the extensive collection contains over 16,000 works comprising historic and modern American art, contemporary art, photography, European painting, sculpture and decorative arts. Known for its impressive holdings of 18th, 19th and 20th century American art, the Corcoran's collection represents significant works from the inception of our country to the present day. Contemporary art is at the core of the museum’s mission and the Corcoran Gallery encourages modern European and American artists by showing and purchasing their work, and pays particular attention to local artists in the Washington area.

View images from the Corcoran Gallery of Art currently available for licensing through Bridgeman

Encouraging American Genius

The Corcoran Gallery was founded for the "purpose of encouraging American Genius." A banker who had amassed a  fortune during the Mexican-American War, William Corcoran retired in 1854 and dedicated himself to purchasing works, particularly American art, at a time when many American collectors' were pursuing European works. Corcoran was particularly fond of paintings by Hudson River School artists, including Albert Bierstadt (below), Frederic Church and George Inness, with whom he became friends. American Impressionism is also well represented, with works by artists such as Frank Weston Benson and Paul Wayland Bartlett among others.

The post-war period of American art, the development of abstract expressionism, and the shift from modern to contemporary is extremely well documented within the Corcoran collection. Works by artists such as Ellsworth Kelly, Willem de Kooning, Cy Twombly, Richard Diebenkorn and Will Barnet are standout examples.

Rounding out the Corcoran's American art collection are two very well-known paintings: Ground Swell by Edward Hopper and Forty-two Kids by George Wesley Bellows.