Frank Waller
Created by Frank Waller, an American architect, Orientalist, and landscape painter, this painting reflects the artist’s belief that museums could help elevate public taste and improve art education in the United States. Waller admired the growing number of cultural institutions in America, including the newly founded Metropolitan Museum of Art, which opened in 1870. He set this scene in the museum’s second home, the Douglas Mansion on West 14th Street, where the institution was housed between 1873 and 1879. The painting shows two of the galleries as they appeared at the time, including works then on display such as Henry Peters Gray's The Wages of War above the doorway and a portrait once believed to be by Leonardo da Vinci in the background.
The female visitor embodies the ideal 19th-century admirer of art—reflective, attentive, and deeply engaged with culture. Her presence also reflects the growing association of museums with education, refinement, and civic life.
Today, as we celebrate International Museum Day, we extend our warmest wishes to all our readers and art lovers around the world. Museums continue to inspire curiosity, learning, and shared cultural experiences—just as they did in Waller’s time. Thank you for exploring art with us and for being part of this global community of museum visitors! :)
P.S. How well do you know museums from around the world? Take this quiz to find out! We can also introduce you to highlights of the Met's collection.