European Paintings

The Crocker's collection of European painting has been shaped by the Crocker family’s purchase of paintings in Europe during 1869-1871. This core collection focuses on Central European painting of the 19th century as well as 16th- and 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting. Italian Baroque painting is also represented here. Gifts and purchases over the course of the Museum’s life have added to these major areas, as well as created a select group of Northern European sculpture in ivory.

Major works include: Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s Peasant Wedding Dance, Gerrit van Honthorst’s Allegory of Painting, Philippe de Champaigne’s Head of an Old Man, and Thomas Willeboirts' Venus and Adonis.

Central European Paintings
The Crocker’s collection of 285 Central European works focuses on 19th-century painting from the German academies. History painting, literary narrative and genre scenes are its greatest strengths, while the collection also features 90 rare 19th-century miniatures. Among the artists represented are Johann Michael Rottmayer, Johann Christian Klengel, Johann Evangelist Holzer, Andreas and Oswald Achenbach, Theobald von Oir, Adolf Wichmann and Bernhard Reinhold.