Princeton University campus must be one of the loveliest in the whole country, and we have had the good fortune of residing fairly close to it for nearly three decades now. We probably enjoyed the setting for leisurely weekend outings more times than at all of the nearby state parks combined (which should not be a surprise for anyone familiar with my preferences for creations of humanity over those created by nature).
Somehow, the university art collection escaped our attention in the past. Princeton University Art Museum is one of the oldest art collecting institutions in the US, dating back to the 1750s. In the last few years, it underwent a complete overhaul, with a new building opening to visitors in the fall of 2025. My fondness for art museums has been well highlighted in these pages – I rarely skip headline museums on my travels. A local gap needed addressing, so we went to the Princeton campus with that specific goal in mind on one of the recent gorgeous weekends.
The somewhat underwhelming modern edifice, once you step inside, reveals a wide-ranging selection of art, from antiquity to contemporary.
The European paintings section – always at the top of my interests – is not too extensive, in line with what one might expect in a museum of limited global renown. You can find a Rembrandt, a van Dyck, a Goya, but practically none of the classical masters is represented by more than one work. My Impressionist and post-Impressionist predilections are satisfied, within the same limited parameters, by Cézanne, van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and especially Monet, Boudin, Manet, and Mary Cassatt.
This landscape feels right out of Renoir’s wheelhouse – it belongs to his contemporary William Merritt Chase, who popularized French Impressionist style in America.
There is a separate and somewhat tucked-away wall of paintings by less-celebrated artists.
I did find a Gustave Loiseau there (the middle-right painting in the above picture) as well as an American Impressionist John Henry Twachtman (the lower-left painting in the preceding shot).
In one corner of the museum, there is a small set of picture frames shown from the back with various original artist inscriptions.
Several examples of stained glass panels offer a rare opportunity to explore the incredible art form up close.
I usually only skim Asian art at most museums, but I was entirely captivated by the collections on display in this relatively compact section.
In one corner of the Asian section – you could miss it if you are not looking for it – there is a brilliant display of miniatures.
The art of the ancient Mediterranean is the most extensive collection, exhibiting a wide range of Greco-Roman and some Egyptian artifacts.
American pre-Columbian art is also well represented.
There are also fun one-offs, such as a full samurai suit of armor from the Edo period…
… the wedding suit and dress worn by then-Captain Horatio Nelson and his bride Fanny Nisbet at their nuptials in 1787…
… and other stand-alone displays.
This contemporary sculpture is Soundsuit by Nick Cave.
Cave is also the author of a frankly mind-blowing mosaic mural greeting the visitors at the museum entrance. Unlike the laconic “Soundsuit”, it is called rather wordily “Let me kindly introduce myself. They call me MC Prince Brighton”.
Modern art appears in various places throughout the museum. I am not a huge fan of the quirkiness or overt symbolism frequently found in contemporary art, but I recognize that the artist succeeded in their pursuit if their piece catches my eye.
Overall, it is certainly not superb, but still a wholly delightful art collection on display at the Princeton University Art Museum. The museum is small enough not to feel overwhelming and yet big enough to leave a sense that there is more to explore. I usually cap art exhibition visits at 2 hours – anything longer than that, and your ability to properly appreciate what you are seeing nosedives. A couple of hours felt just the right amount of time here.
I failed to mention so far that the entry to the museum is entirely free!
We did not walk around the campus as much as we usually do, but for contrast with the contemporary museum building, here are a few perspectives of the neo-Gothic architecture dominating the central campus.
Highly recommended – both the campus and the museum!