The Layton Collection

In 1888, local businessman Frederick Layton built a gallery downtown to showcase his collection of mostly 19th-century European and American paintings. The Layton Art Gallery was his gift to the people of Milwaukee—and a founding institution of the Milwaukee Art Museum. That original building is long gone, but objects from Layton’s collection continue to be featured throughout the Museum’s galleries. Over the years, the Layton Art Collection has grown alongside the Museum, and its history and holdings remain integral to the story of the city. Take a closer look at Layton’s legacy.