From Cassatt to Picasso, Connecticut museum receives gift of 70 major artworks, the largest in its history

Bruce Museum in Greenwich has been promised an anonymous gift of 70 artworks by major artists such as Cassatt, Hassam, Homer, Hopper, Wyeth and Picasso, the museum announced Wednesday.

The paintings, sculptures watercolors, drawings, prints and photographs, from an anonymous Greenwich couple, will be the largest gift of art in the museum’s 112-year history, according to a news release from Suzanne Lio, the museum’s managing director and chief operating officer.

The museum’s chairman of the board of directors called the gift a game-changer for the museum.

“I am sincerely humbled by the generosity, the foresight and altruism of this local family,” said James B. Lockhart III.

The gift comes in the midst of a $60 million renovation project, which will double the size of the museum, , adding exhibition, education, and community spaces, including a restaurant and auditorium. The anonymous donors also are donating money to that campaign.

“These works will further define the New Bruce as a museum that explores global stories of modern and contemporary art,” said Robert Wolterstorff, executive director and CEO of the museum.

Among the artworks donated are:

• Winslow Homer’s watercolors “Boy on Dock” (1873) and “Fishergirls Coiling Tackle” (1881).

• Andrew Wyeth’s watercolor “Cape May” (1992); his Helga series tempera painting “Sheepskin” (1973); another Wyeth tempera, “The Huntress”(1978); as well as watercolors and drawings.

• Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period watercolor “Le Guitariste” (Guitar Player, 1903).

• Edward Hopper’s oils “Two Comedians” (1966) and “Bridle Path” (1939).

• Mary Cassatt’s “Two Little Sisters” (c. 1901-02), as well as color etchings by Cassatt.

• Camille Pissarro’s pointillist-inspired works “Le Marché de Gisors, Grande-Rue” (The Market of Gisors, on the Grande-Rue, 1885) and “Fenaison à Éragny” (Haymaking at Éragny, 1891)

• Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture “Femme Assise” (Seated Woman, 1956).

• Elie Nadelman sculptures including “Circus Performer” (c. 1919).

• Bronzes by Harriet Frishmuth, including “The Star” (1918).

• Henry Moore bronzes including “Family Group” (1946).

• Childe Hassam oils and watercolors, including “Rainy Day on the Avenue” (1893) and “The White Dory” (1895).

• John Singer Sargent’s oil “Girl Fishing” (1913).

• Joan Miró's oil “Femmes et Oiseau dans la Nuit” (Women and Bird in the Night, 1946).

• Wassily Kandinsky’s abstract watercolor “Rosa Rot” (Rose Red, 1927).

The donors said they collected the works because they just wanted to see them every day in their home.

“We have lived in Greenwich a long time and what better place to share our collection with the community than the exciting New Bruce,” they said in the statement.

According to the museum’s website, the grand opening of the expansion is expected this fall. brucemuseum.org.

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.