Since its opening in 1936 as the USA's first art museum chartered by a state, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has grown into a world-class cultural institution, with a permanent collection that encompasses more than 33,000 works spanning 5,000 years of world history. Its collections of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, English silver, Faberge and art from South Asia are among the finest in the nation. With acclaimed holdings in American, British sporting, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist, and Modern and Contemporary art - and additional strengths in African, Ancient, East Asian and European art - VMFA is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the United States. This beautifully illustrated book provides a glimpse into some of the museum's most treasured artworks, as well as a brief history of its buildings and grounds.