17th Century to Present
American Art
From colonial portraiture to Hudson River School landscapes, Gilded Age grandeur, and early American modernism — the story of art in America, told through the Met's collection.
Explore American Art from The Met — free, no account needed
Start Drifting — American ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing holds the largest and most comprehensive collection of American art in the world, spanning the colonial period of the 17th century through the early 20th century. The collection includes approximately 20,000 works in all media.
Painting highlights range from John Singleton Copley's brilliant colonial portraits and Gilbert Stuart's iconic images of George Washington, through the Hudson River School landscapes of Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer's seascapes, John Singer Sargent's society portraits, and the early American modernism of Georgia O'Keeffe.
The collection also includes exceptional decorative arts — furniture, silver, ceramics, and glass that document the history of American material culture from the 1630s through the 1910s.
What You'll Discover
Hudson River School
Thomas Cole's Course of Empire, Frederic Church's Heart of the Andes, and Albert Bierstadt's Western landscapes — monumental paintings of the American wilderness.
Colonial Portraits
John Singleton Copley's virtuosic pre-Revolutionary portraiture and Gilbert Stuart's defining images of the Founding Fathers.
Gilded Age Painting
Winslow Homer's powerful seascapes, John Singer Sargent's brilliant portraits, and the Aesthetic Movement paintings of the late 19th century.
American Modernism
Georgia O'Keeffe's Southwest landscapes and abstractions, and the first generation of American modernists absorbing European avant-garde influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What American art does the Met hold?
The Met's American Wing holds approximately 20,000 works, including colonial portraits, Hudson River School landscapes, Gilded Age paintings, decorative arts, furniture, silver, and early American modernism — from the 1630s through the early 20th century.
Can I view Hudson River School paintings from the Met online?
Yes. Museum Drift streams public domain works from The Met's American Art collection for free, including works by Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and many more.