About the Collection

When the Lyman Allyn opened in 1932, the collection famously consisted of only 13 works. Today, it has grown to include more than 18,000 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, furniture and decorative arts as a result of active acquisitions by patrons of the Lyman Allyn.

The collection spans a 2,600-year period, ranging from ancient Greek and Roman artifacts to works by living artists, with particular strengths in American and European art from the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable artists in the collection include Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Andrew Wyeth, John Copley, Winthrop Chandler, Paul Revere, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Sol LeWitt, Eugene Delacroix, Charles LeBrun, J. A. D. Ingres, and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, among many others.
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Lekanis (Covered Dish), Greek, terracotta with decorated black glaze technique, ca. mid-4th century BCE. Gift of William Evarts Benjamin, 1935.4.171 a,b.

Cosmetic Box, Kuba People, wood, pigment, 19th century. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Cohen, 1960.56 a,b.

War Club, Samoan, carved wood, late 19th century. Gift of Raymond Macrino, 1976.211.

Bear Holding a Seal, Inuit people, stone, 20th century. Gift of Mrs. Robert Gillifan, 2016.00.35.

Baga Spirit Bird, African, wood, ca. late 19th early 20th century. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Cohen, 1960.55.

Pierre Auguste Renoir, Maternity: Madame Renoir and Son, bronze, 1916. Alfred Flechtheim Collection, 1931.7.

W. Langhine, President Abraham Lincoln, no date, carved wood and paint. Gift of Mrs. Moss Baratz, 1968.1.125

Ushabti, Egyptian, painted faience, Third Intermediate Period. Gift of William Evarts Benjamin, 1935.4.417.

St. George Slaying the Dragon, School of Tilman Riemenschneider, oak or linden wood, ca. 1480. Friends Fund Purchase, 1959.106.

Horse and Rider, Senufo People, Cote d'Ivoire, wood, ca. early - mid 20th century. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Cohen, 1962.66.

Wedding Vase, Tewa People, oxidized earthenware and slip, ca. 20th century. Museum Purchase, 1973.64.

Sake Bottle, Japanese, porcelain with blue underglaze (Arita ware), early 18th century. Gift of Robert Sistrunk, 1978.172.

Ongoing Efforts
We are currently undergoing a comprehensive inventory and assessment of collections and digitization of collections records, made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, to establish greater control over the Museum’s collection and increase its accessibility. Our collaboration with the Connecticut Digital Archives (CTDA) supports the Museum’s mission to make art enjoyable, inspirational and accessible to the people of New London and beyond by providing free access to a portion of our permanent collection online.

Through the CTDA digital preservation repository service, we are able to provide access to our resources for scholars, students and the general public for free. It also gives those unable to visit the Museum a way to browse through our collection. Object information and images are added periodically to provide access to an even greater variety of works of art. We hope visitors use this feature for scholarly endeavors and to learn more about the Lyman Allyn’s collection and its significance to New London and the surrounding area.
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