The Walters Art Gallery: Guide to the Collections

The Walters Art Gallery was opened to the public on 16 June 1934, a result of the combined efforts of the unique father-and-son collectors, William and Henry Walters. William, Henry's father, was founder of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and began to collect art mainly from France, the Far East and contemporary New York. By the end of his life, at the end of the 19th century, he had amassed one of America's major collections of both European and Asian art.Henry Walters expanded his father's collection, and in 1902 founded a museum. In 1909, he ventured further and opened a new gallery. This housed his collection of Greek ceramics and Roman sculpture, early Byzantine art, Medieval art, manuscripts and incunabula, Renaissance paintings, 18th century porcelain, 18th and 19th century paintings, and Asian art.