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Glens Falls is the home of The Hyde
Collection, an art museum which houses extraordinary works by masters
such as Raphael, da Vinci, Rubens, Rembrandt, Cézanne, Renoir, van Gogh,
Picasso, Whistler, Eakins and Homer. In 1952 a trust was
established, and in 1963 the stately Florentine styled home of Louis and
Charlotte Hyde opened its doors as a museum. The Hydes purchased
most of the European and American art in the permanent collection, but
the collection also includes additional pieces donated since 1963.
Visitors can enjoy the art displayed amongst Italian Renaissance and
18th c. French antique furnishings. Eight elegant yet understated
rooms surround a two-story, sky-lit courtyard studded with sculpture and
tropical plants. Uniquely, The Hyde Collection combines the
intimacy of this historic house with the sophistication of a larger art
museum complex. Four additional gallery spaces on three floors
present as many as a dozen changing exhibits in a year’s time.
In 1994 The Hyde Collection
initiated free admission. Attendance has grown and programs have
expanded. Currently, The Hyde
offers school programs, children’s activities including a summer
program, adult programs, lectures, concerts, 4-5 day trips a year, and
an annual trip abroad. Group tours have become a staple at The
Hyde, bringing tourists into town from around the state and the nation.
Residents of the region can take an active part at The Hyde. Their
docent program offers the opportunity to specialize in museum art, then
to share their education with visitors to The Hyde, and to interact with
the many visitors to this museum. Volunteers are also warmly
welcomed, for The Hyde staff is constantly pushing the envelope to
present another new activity. Saturday mornings are often devoted
to adult and children's workshops. The downstairs auditorium
offers entertainment from chamber music to ballet to children’s theater.
Lecture series are often offered in conjunction with gallery exhibits.
In November, The Hyde will be hosting a two-week trip to northern Italy.
And a service often forgotten by those of us who live in the area is
that there is a wonderful Museum Shop, offering many unique gifts.
Visit The Hyde’s Web site at
www.hydeartmuseum.org to learn more about the museum’s
history, education programs, events, and services. |
