In Mummies to Monet: The Libbeys Collect, you discovered how our founders created a strong collecting foundation for TMA. But how did other museum founders build their collections? The new, free exhibition Collecting at Winterthur: Henry Francis du Pont’s American Vision is an in-depth look at the origins of one of America’s leading collections of decorative arts. View a full schedule of related public programs.

Henry Francis du Pont was born at his family’s Winterthur estate near Wilmington, Delaware, in 1880. Throughout his life, du Pont proved himself an astute connoisseur and collector of American fine and decorative arts, and he acquired some of the rarest items made or used in America between 1640 and 1860. In 1951 he founded Winterthur Museum & Country Estate to house and exhibit his growing collection.

Collecting at Winterthur presents an intriguing look at du Pont’s preferences, presented in both thematic and chronological groupings: “Early Settlement and Sophistication,” “A Passion for Rococco,” “East Meets West,” “The Arts of the Pennsylvania Germans,” and “American Classicism.” Join us for this peek into the history of a legendary American collector and his museum.

TMA’s presentation of Collecting at Winterthur: Henry Francis du Pont’s American Vision is free to the public and supported, in part, by Sotheby’s. This exhibition is organized by Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, Wilmington, Delaware.

Left: Decorative objects from the Winterthur Collection