Welcome to the virtual National Museum of American Illustration, where artworks from the ‘Golden Age of American Illustration’ and from other eras are presented in the ‘Gilded Age’ architectural frame of Vernon Court (1898). Visitors can appreciate our American Imagist Collection as a medley of beautiful pictures, but also as a historical overview of our unique culture. These works are our visual history, indeed they are American civilization illustrated. The original paintings and drawings in our Collection were specifically created for reproduction in books, periodicals, advertisements, and art prints. In the process, illustrators created iconic images, a mythology of our history, and a virtual catalog of bygone styles and days. We cordially invite you to take The Grand Tour of the Museum.
The National Museum of American Illustration exhibits original artworks from its permanent collection which features the 'Golden Age of American Illustration' (1895-1945) and historically, the greatest illustration artists such as:
Vernon Court was designed by Carrére & Hastings, architects of the New York Public Library, The Frick Collection, The Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Nemours (DuPont mansion museum in Wilmington), Neue Galerie in NYC, United States Senate and House Office Buildings, and other nationally recognized architectural monuments.
The adjacent Stoneacre grounds, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1884, legendary first American landscape architect, designer of Central Park, the White House grounds, National Park System, many Newport estates, and other notable projects, have been restored, revitalized and preserved. The Frederick Law Olmsted Park and Vernon Court's grounds, designed by Wadley & Smythe, have a number of Champion Trees of the USA, including Ginkgo, Japanese Zelkovas, Fernleaf Beech and Yeddo Spruce. A Memorial Arch in honor of Louis I. Kahn, the greatest American architect of the second half of the 20th century, will be constructed in the future. This unique tripartite project comprises a great step forward towards protecting and enhancing our nation's architectural and artistic heritage.
Vernon Court combines art from the 'Golden Age of American Illustration' in 'Gilded Age' architecture. It is truly an alliance of art and architecture, rarely achieved and unique. Other comparable institutions are the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Albert Barnes Foundation in Pennsylvania, Borghese Gallery in Rome, Kenwood English Heritage and the Wallace Collection in London.
The National Arts Club is the founding institution supporting the Museum, a private collaborative undertaking between two nonprofit organizations of national significance.
