The Delaware Art Museum is a nice little museum. It doesn't compare to the museums in larger cities, but it is exceptional for a place the size of Wilmington. There is more than enough art to see in one visit, and you might not be able to see it all at once. I visited the museum in March 2010 and stayed for about 3 hours. Our party of three got in on the $25 family admission.
The Delaware Art Museum is tucked back in a neighborhood near the Trolley Square area of Wilmington. You'll definitely need a GPS receiver or map since the building is several blocks away from the main streets. Parking is adequate and there is a nice place at the front to drop off passengers before parking.
The first few galleries are pretty good, but not outstanding. There are a few hidden gems from artists like Winslow Homer but in general the artists are not well-known. Each room is organized by a period in American history. One complaint I have is that many of the works are actually story illustrations from a magazine such as Harper's Weekly. Often the descriptions do not do a good job of explaining what is happening in the scene. It doesn't help that some of the stories are very fantastical and outlandish. I didn't enjoy the upstairs section as much because it focuses on modern art.
The real highlight of the museum is its collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, said to be the largest outside of the British Isles. The gallery devoted to this collection does a great job of explaining the motivations of the artists and the themes they were trying to express. Also, the artwork is pretty cool to look at. The museum is worth it for this gallery alone. Definitely a must-see for the Wilmington area.
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