“What a wonderful book this is for art lovers of every stripe—a guide to top-tier collections around the United States that are hiding in plain sight. From cowboy art to pre-Columbian, Boucher to Braque, it can all be found at the 50 lesser-known museums that star in A Love for the Beautiful. Susan Jaques’ lively guide will prompt hours of enjoyable browsing—as well as dreams of a cross-country art tour. I’ll start mine at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans.” —Annalyn Swan, Pulitzer prize–winning coauthor of de Kooning: An American Master

“Susan Jaques has produced an informative, accessible guide to the fascinating mosaic of America’s art museums. Chock full of history, beautifully descriptive, and always engaging, this work will introduce art lovers (and art lovers to be) to many undiscovered riches.” —Dewey Blanton, director of Strategic Communications, American Association of Museums

Happily, not all of the world's most distinguished art is found at The Met, MOMA, or the Prado. Private collectors often bequeath their artifacts to much lesser-known locales, to the great benefit of their visitors. This lovely book identifies and describes those special places around the country where it's still possible to be alone in a room with a masterpiece, contemporary or ancient. The Colby College Museum of Art, in Maine, and The Kemper, in Kansas City, Missouri, are just two stand-out small museums recommend. ––ForeWord