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Forming the Collection

Explore the different ways artworks enter the museum’s collection.

Artworks or objects that come into a museum’s collection are called acquisitions. Objects in collections can be gifts to or purchased by the museum.

Notice the image credit that goes with each image. After listing the artist’s name, artwork title, year the artwork was created, materials, and dimensions, it shows when and how The Phillips Collection acquired the artwork. When you go to the museum, the label next to each artwork will also tell you this information.   

Duncan Phillips, the museum’s founder, bought these artworks:

Honoré Daumier, The Uprising (L’Emeute), 1848 or later. Oil on canvas, 34 ½ x 44 ½ in. Acquired 1925

Odilon Redon, Mystery, 1910. Oil on canvas, 28 ¾ x 21 3/8 in. Acquired 1925

Adolph Gottlieb, The Seer, 1950. Oil on canvas, 59 ¾ x 71 5/8 in. Acquired 1952

Anything acquired before 1966 was acquired by Duncan Phillips. He founded the museum in 1921.
  • Look closely at these artworks. What do you see that connects these artworks?
  • Why might Duncan Phillips have acquired these artworks?

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