Yale Center for British Art

The Yale Center for British Art houses the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom. Presented to the university by Paul Mellon (Yale College, Class of 1929), the collection reflects the development of British art and culture from the Elizabethan period onward. The Center’s collections include more than 2,000 paintings and 250 sculptures, 20,000 drawings and watercolors, 40,000 prints and 35,000 rare books and manuscripts. More than 40,000 volumes supporting research in British art and related fields are available in the Reference Library.

The Center offers a year-round schedule of exhibitions and programs. Resources include a reference library and study room for examining works on paper, as well as rare books and manuscripts. Opened to the public in 1977, the Center is the final building designed by Louis I. Kahn. Located in downtown New Haven, the Center is near many of the city’s best restaurants, theaters, and shops.