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Founded in 1919, the Dayton Art Institute houses an exceptional mid-sized, encyclopedic, fine art collection with more than 27,000 objects covering 5,000 years of history from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania. The renaissance palazzo style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Dutch and Flemish art is an important part of the DAI collection, with several judicious acquisitions made under director Thomas Colt from 1958–1972. The collection includes landscapes, portraits, still lifes and history paintings, as well as tapestries, sculpture and furniture. In addition, the DAI has numerous works on paper and many fine examples of Dutch and Flemish lace.
The artists of works typically on view include Jacob van Ruisdael, Frans Franken the Younger, Jacob Willemsz Delff, Hendrick Terbrugghen, Jacob Jordaens, Ferdinand Bol, Jan de Bray, Gerrit van Honthorst, Bartholomeus Breenbergh, Jan Fyt, Jacob Jordaens and studio, two paintings by Hendrick van Balen, one with Jan Brueghel the Elder, Abraham van Beyeren, Abraham Janssen van Nuyssen, Adriaen van Nieulandt the Younger, Frans Beubels, a pair of fanciful wildlife scenes by Roelandt Savery, and a portrait plus a double-portrait study by Peter Paul Rubens.
Jerry N. Smith, Head Curator and Curatorial Affairs Director (October 2024)