Visit R.W. Norton Art Gallery, known for its extensive art collections and beautiful gardens. Allow enough time to explore all four collections in the gallery. The American section covers colonial through contemporary periods. Examine an extensive group of works by Frederic Remington, including The Bronco Buster, a bronze sculpture. Heroes from the Revolutionary War and Civil War are depicted in portraits.
The European collection includes 16th-century tapestries from France, 17th-century Dutch artists, 18th-century British artists and 19th-century works in the style of the Munich School. Look for paintings by Mary Cassett and sculpture from Frederic Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Staffordshire pottery and china are included in a section of European decorative arts.
In the rare books section, see an early edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America and a limited edition ofAlice in Wonderlandillustrated by Salvador Dalí.Additional works cover more natural history, art history, atlases and religious topics.
View tapestries, porcelain, glass and silver in the decorative arts collection. In addition to Wedgwood pottery, the collection features North American Indian statues from Cybis Porcelain. Marvel at the Steuben glassworks, hand-made with colored glass or delicate coloring created from diffraction through the glass. See silver crafted by Paul Revere, Daniel van Voorhis and Daniel Henchman.
Take a relaxing stroll through the beautiful gardens, with babbling streams, waterfalls and outdoor sculptures across 40 acres (16 hectares). Spring brings azaleas in over 100 colorful varieties plus many other flowers, including camellias, hibiscus, hydrangeas and lilies. Throughout the year, enjoy dwarf abelia, dogwood and other shrubs and trees. Relax on a wooden or cast-iron bench and look for the large Brown Pelican sculpted by Sandy Scott. Gorilla, puma, grizzly bear, otters, a wild boar and Monet in His Garden are among the other sculptures.
The free R.W. Norton Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday. The grounds generally have extended hours, depending on the season. After visiting this attraction in downtown Shreveport, stop at Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center and the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.
