The Thomson Collection
“Some of the most sublime and emotionally complex works ever created.”
— The Financial Times (UK)
Over 50 years, Ken Thomson (1923–2006) assembled the most important private art collection in Canada, and its gift to the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the most significant acts of philanthropy in Canadian history.
The Thomson Collection comprises Canadian paintings, First Nations objects, European works of art - primarily northern European sculpture and decorative arts dating from the early Middle Ages to the mid 19th century - plus ship models from the Napoleonic era to the 20th century.
Everything Ken Thomson bought was of the highest quality of craftsmanship and spoke directly to him.
The Thomson Collection Publications
Find out about the set of five art books being published to mark the unveiling of the Thomson Collection at the AGO
NEW ART: The Thomson Collection
The largest gift ever made to a Canadian cultural institution, including signature Canadian and European works
A Conversation with a Collector
In a 1997 conversation, Ken Thomson shares his experiences on collecting with the AGO's Matthew Teitelbaum
The Thomson Collection at the AGO Art Experience
Find out more about the extraordinary art experience visitors can expect when they visit the Thomson Collection at the AGO
The Thomson Collection of Canadian Paintings and First Nations Objects
Learn more about this unparalleled collection comprising some 700 works of art and distinguished by its remarkable breadth, the high quality of the individual works and the rarity of many of its objects
The Thomson Collection of European Works of Art
Get overview information on the Thomson Collection of European Works of Art, which comprises some 900 objects dating from the early Middle Ages to the mid 19th century, and includes The Massacre of the Innocents, by Peter Paul Rubens