R.W. Norton Art Gallery

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery is located in Shreveport, Louisiana. The museum has an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts from Europe and America. The museum is particularly well known for its art collections of Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.

History of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery:

The R.W. Norton Art Gallery opened in 1966. Richard W. Norton became the discoverer of the Rodessa Oil Field in North Louisiana in the early 1930's. Mr. Norton's wife and son gradually began to build up a significant fine art collection. In order to honor Richard W. Norton, his wife and son created the R.W. Norton Art Foundation in 1946 for the benefit of the community. The foundation slowly evolved into the R.W Norton Art Foundation. The emergence of the art foundation led to the establishment of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. The initial collection of the gallery was based on the donations by the Norton. The R.W. Norton Art Gallery is an ever expanding gallery and continues to contribute to the gallery.

Building of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery:

The building housing the R.W. Norton Art Gallery was initially meant to be of a contemporary design, which offered plenty of open spaces and adequate light. It was also planned that the building would have provisions for expansions. The gallery was built keeping in mind all these factors. At present the art gallery in Shreveport has twenty four exhibition rooms. The long term planning of the founding architects proved useful and prudent during expansions made in 1990 and 2003. The 1990 expansion resulted in a south wing and the expansion of 2003 led to an additional north wing.

Collections at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery:

The collection at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery includes over four centuries of American and European Art, 16th century Flemish Tapestry, rare books and manuscripts, Wedgwood pottery and western art works by Remington including sculptures. The gun collection at the R.W. Norton Art Gallery is outstanding. There is an entire gallery devoted to at on the civil war.