Walters Art Museum, Baltimore (must see)

The Walters Art Museum developed from the private collection of William Thompson Walters and his son, Henry Walters. William concentrated on modern European and Asian art, while Henry expanded the collection to include ancient, medieval, and Renaissance works. After Henry’s death in 1931, the entire collection was donated to the City of Baltimore. The original building, completed in 1909 in the style of an Italian palazzo, still defines the museum’s presence and sets the tone for a collection intended to be both wide-ranging and accessible.

Among the museum’s most notable highlights is the Egyptian collection, particularly the Walters Mummy, often referred to as the “Unknown Lady,” dating to the 9th or 8th century BC. Head to the lower-level galleries after entering the museum. The artifacts are typically grouped together and clearly marked as the ancient art section.

Also significant are the medieval illuminated manuscripts and the European painting collection, which includes works by El Greco, Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, and Henri Rousseau. These are primarily located on the third floor, where the medieval and Renaissance galleries are arranged in sequence. The manuscripts are typically displayed in dimly lit rooms for preservation. Once you exit these manuscript rooms, continue forward along the main gallery axis, where the space opens into larger, brighter rooms displaying European paintings.

Decorative arts form another key highlight, especially the Fabergé eggs, along with the extensive arms and armor displays. These are placed in dedicated display cases along these same levels, often in side rooms branching off the main path.

The Asian collection is equally important, featuring over 1,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain and a strong group of Japanese arms and lacquerware. For the Asian collections, you have to move to a separate wing within the Centre Street Annex, the newer building connected to the original palazzo. To reach it, remain on the upper levels and follow signage directing you toward Asian Art or cross through the glass-enclosed bridge that links the historic building to the modern wing. The Chinese porcelain is displayed in grouped cases, while Japanese arms and lacquerware are often presented nearby in adjacent rooms.