Journey through the history of Western painting in one of the world’s finest collections of art. The museum is also home to the largest collections of Egyptian and Japanese art outside of those countries and provides an infinite array of human expression.

Our tour focuses on both art done by native Bostonians (John Singleton Copley, Homer Winslow), and the history of Western expression through painting. Starting with the Dutch Masters, we travel through the counter-reformation (Velazquez), Romanticism (JMW Turner), Impressionism (Monet), Expressionism (Picasso), and all the other isms that led to the modern era. We finish in the American Wing, admiring glass by Chihuly, Louis Tiffany, and John LaFarge, Copley portraits of John Hancock and Paul Revere, and the genius of John Singer Sargent.

This tour is designed to teach the novice how to better appreciate art, or to show the veteran art historian a mélange of the museum’s 30-40 best pieces. We’ve selected the paintings with the best stories that will delight even small children who thought museums were boring. Please note that museum admission is NOT included in the price of these tours. Guests will be required to pay their own admission for an additional modest fee. Our fee is for the tour guide’s services only.