THE Magazine - Los Angeles

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington. Henry Huntington, a key figure in the development of Southern California in the early 20th century, was also an active collector of rare books and manuscripts, art, and plants. The Huntington’s art collections are specialized in character, focusing on 18th century British and French art, and on American art ranging from the early 18th to the early 20th century. Other objects of the same period round out the collection including French paintings, French and British sculpture, tapestries, furniture, porcelain, and silver, and British drawings and watercolors. The collections have continued to grow, both by gift and purchase, particularly in the area of American art. Temporary art exhibitions include shows derived substantially from The Huntington’s collections, as well as traveling exhibits from other museums throughout the United States and abroad.