The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the premier art institutions in the United States. It was founded in 1881 by Cincinnati philanthropist, James W. M. Finley. Finley was born in 1819 and served as a Union soldier during the Civil War before becoming involved in banking, real estate, and other business ventures.
Finley had a deep appreciation for art and wanted to create an institution where people from all walks of life could come together to experience its beauty and power. He donated his own collection of artworks as well as funds to help get the museum off the ground. The original museum was located in Eden Park and had a collection of 6,000 works of art from around the world.
In its early years, The Cincinnati Art Museum focused on collecting European old masters but soon began to expand its holdings by acquiring American paintings, prints, and sculptures as well as collections from Asia and Africa. In addition to collecting works of art, they also began offering educational programs that served local schools and communities throughout Ohio and beyond.
Today, The Cincinnati Art Museum continues to be one of the leading institutions for art education in the United States with more than 60,000 works in its permanent collection ranging from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces. It has also become an important cultural landmark for Cincinnati residents who come to enjoy its exhibitions, lectures, films, concerts and special events each year.
The museum is also home to an extensive library containing over 100,000 volumes on art history and related subjects which are available for research by students and scholars alike.
The legacy of James W. Finley lives on through The Cincinnati Art Museum which he founded nearly 140 years ago with a vision of bringing together people from all walks of life under the common banner of appreciation for art.
Conclusion: James W M Finley was responsible for founding The Cincinnati Art Museum back in 1881 with his own collection of artworks as well as funds he donated towards making it happen. He wanted individuals from all backgrounds be able to come together under one roof and appreciate beauty through various forms of artwork found around the world – a legacy that still carries on today!