Norton Simon Museum
Over a 30-year period, the industrialist Norton Simon (1907–1993) amassed an impressive group of European masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and a stellar collection of South and Southeast Asian art spanning 2,000 years.
Welcome to the Norton Simon Museum, the art museum located in Pasadena that was first founded in 1922. Previously known as the Pasadena Art Institute, this popular art museum is located within a notably unconventional building that houses a well-known collection of European and Asian art, as well as a sprawling sculpture garden.
The works within the museum span from the early renaissance to the 20th century, plus centuries of south and southeast Asian art. Some highlights of the collection include works from such famous artists as Raphael, Rembrandt, Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, Picasso, and more. Here is a sample of some of the most famous works you will see inside:
- The Triumph of Virtue and Nobility Over Ignorance - Tiepolo
- The Pont des Arts, Paris - Renoir
- Woman With a Book - Picasso
- The Ragpicker - Manet
- Portrait of a Peasant - Van Gogh
There are regularly changing exhibits within, each with a goal to demonstrate the richness and history of the museum collections. See such exhibits as Unseen Picasso, The Expressive Body: Memory, Devotion, Desire, and Alternate Realities: Altun, Diebenkorn, Lobdell, Woelffer. There are over 12,000 objects total within, making this museum the official ‘home to one of the world’s most remarkable private art collections ever assembled.’
Save plenty of time to stop by the onsite cafe near the sculpture garden as well as the museum store, the latter of which is full of books, art supplies, stationery, games, and more. There are regularly scheduled events and educational programs year-round, so be sure to check out what may be happening during your visit before you go.
