There is a little less art in Connecticut and a whole lot more at a national museum because of a very generous donation from two Connecticut art collectors.
The National Gallery of Art received 5,250 American prints donated from Dave and Reba Williams' Print Research Foundation in Stamford and boosts the National Gallery's American print collection by nearly 40 percent.
The collection includes works from the late 19th century's etching revival through Andy Warhol's creations in the 1960s.
The Williamses also donated their research library and proceeds from the sale of their foundation's building. The National Gallery also purchased 250 prints from the couple's personal collection.
The donation contains the largest number of artists of any gift the gallery has received, officials said.
“The collection is unrivaled in its scope and is among the largest and finest private collections of American prints in the world,” according to a news release on the National Gallery of Art’s Web site.
An official exhibition is years away, but the public will be able to view the prints around the end of summer.
