Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia

The Columbia Museum of Art stands as a vibrant cultural institution showcasing a diverse collection of European and American fine and decorative art spanning multiple centuries. Housed within a transformed urban department store, the museum boasts 25 light-filled galleries that provide an immersive experience for visitors.

A highlight of the museum's collection is its Renaissance and Baroque collection, generously gifted by the Samuel Kress Foundation. This collection features an array of Old Master paintings, many of which were originally commissioned by churches in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries. Upstairs galleries showcase Nativity scenes, Madonna and Child paintings, and scenes from the Old and New Testaments, offering insight into religious iconography and artistic expression of the era. Notably, the museum also boasts a rare and monumental Nativity fresco transferred to canvas by the esteemed Florentine Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli.

In addition to its Renaissance and Baroque treasures, the Columbia Museum of Art houses notable works from other periods and regions. Claude Monet's serene landscape painting, The Seine at Giverny, graces the museum's walls, alongside exquisite art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The museum's decorative arts collection comprises around 3,000 objects, primarily dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. From silverware and Chinese export porcelain to contemporary art glass and American furniture, the collection offers a comprehensive view of artistic craftsmanship and design across cultures and epochs. Additionally, the Turner Collection includes a selection of Asian objects dating back to the T'ang Dynasty, further enriching the museum's diverse offerings.