Eisenstadt Collection

The Dishman Art Museum, then the Dishman Art Gallery, expanded its small core collection in 1993 with the generous bequest of Dr. Heinz and Ruth Eisenstadt. Their long-sighted gift has since become a pillar of the Dishman Art Museum serving students and faculty across the campus and the larger community.

Throughout their adult lives, Dr. and Mrs. Eisenstadt were avid collectors, sharing their love of art with family and friends. They always had a warm affection for Lamar. In 1973, Dr. Eisenstadt was one of the founders of Lamar University’s Friends of the Arts, serving as the group’s first president. Through this relationship, it became apparent to the couple that Lamar University was the ideal location for their legacy. As a result of their generosity, this exquisite collection representing their love and appreciation of art will be available for study and enjoyment at Lamar University's Dishman Art Museum for many generations to come.

The Eisenstadt Collection is comprised of more than 450 paintings, decorative arts, textiles and significant historical pieces of furniture.

The paintings in the Eisenstadt are a wonderful collection of 17th through 18th-century academic painting. Some highlights from the painting collection include an oil sketch by the American painter Thomas Moran, a small finished canvas by the Barbizon School painter Rosa Bonheur, and a wonderful portrait by the Neoclassical painter Angelica Kauffman.

The true gem of the Eisenstadt Collection resides in the decorative arts. From 18th-century German silver saltcellars to 19th-century opera glass and Wedgewood vases, it is a collection sure to inspire and awe.