The Huntington Expands Art Collection with Significant New Acquisitions

Key Takeaways 

• The Huntington has acquired significant works spanning the 16th through 21st centuries and encompassing painting, sculpture, ceramics, and tapestry. 
• The acquisitions build on The Huntington’s established strengths in American, European, and Asian art while expanding the range of histories and artistic traditions represented in the collection. 
• The works create new opportunities to connect the Art Museum’s holdings with materials in The Huntington’s library and botanical collections. 
• Many of the acquisitions were made possible through The Huntington’s Art Collectors’ Council, which is celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year. 
• In addition to works acquired through the Art Collectors’ Council, The Huntington has acquired Robert Indiana’s LOVE, one of the most recognizable works of postwar American art, as a gift for its permanent collection. The monumental sculpture will be installed near the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art and unveiled to the public before the end of the year.   

The Huntington has added five significant works spanning the 16th through 21st centuries and a range of media to its Art Museum collection. The acquisitions deepen established areas of the collection while introducing new artists, histories, and perspectives. They create new opportunities for research, interpretation, and connections across The Huntington’s art, library, and botanical collections.  

“These acquisitions reflect our commitment to building on the strengths of The Huntington’s collections while broadening the histories and artistic traditions represented within them,” said Christina Nielsen, Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Art Museum at The Huntington. “Our growing audiences value the historical masterpieces we steward for future generations, as well as the opportunity to experience them in conversation with art of our own time by some of today’s most significant artists.” 

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of The Huntington’s Art Collectors’ Council, whose support enables the Art Museum to acquire curator-recommended works that strengthen the collection and expand the stories told in the galleries. 

Jan Brueghel the Elder, A Still Life with a Tazza, a Garland of Flowers, and a Jewelry Box, ca. 1620 

 Jan Brueghel the Elder, a pioneer of the European floral still life, brings together flowers, jewelry, coins, glass, lacquer, and other luxury objects with extraordinary precision in this work from about 1620. Roses, carnations, marigolds, pansies, and other blooms encircle an ornate gilt tazza, while imported objects, including a Japanese lacquer box, pearls, and materials originating in the Americas, reflect the global trade networks of the period. 

The painting will be the first European floral still life to enter The Huntington’s collection. Its botanical imagery creates natural connections with the Botanical Gardens, while its representations of gems, luxury materials, and an early watch complement the Library’s holdings in the history of science. The work will become a cornerstone of the reinstalled Dutch and Flemish galleries in the Huntington Art Gallery. 

Deruta Workshop,

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About The Huntington 

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.