By michel witmer 9 8 Q UE S T
Bruce Museum is a small gem of a museum with a big mission. With 85,000 visitors per year, the Bruce is integral to the cultural life of Fairfield County. Museums ten times its size cannot boast the roster of famous artists whose works it has exhibited over the years—Vermeer, Rubens, Matisse, Picasso. The Wall Street Journal called the Bruce “plucky” while the New York Times said, “The Bruce is punching above its weight class.” It offers more than a dozen top-notch exhibitions annually, along with its significant educational mission. In 1908, textile magnate Robert Moffat Bruce deeded his property to the Town of Greenwich, stipulating that it be used as “a natural history, historical, and art museum for the use and benefit of the public.” The Bruce’s first exhibition took place in 1912. It featured works by local artists, several of whom were members of the Cos Cob Art Colony that included Childe Hassam and John Twachtman, among others. Named after the charming waterfront village located in the heart of
t h e b ru c e m u s e u m
little museum, big mission
Situated on a hill overlooking Greenwich Harbor, the