Jasper Johns, “Target,” 1961; the Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Edlis/Neeson Collection.

CHICAGO, ILL. — The Art Institute of Chicago has received the largest gift of art in the museum’s 136-year history: the Edlis/Neeson Collection, 42 choice examples of contemporary art that Chicago-based collectors and philanthropists Stefan T. Edlis and his wife Gael Neeson have donated.

The gift includes nine works by Andy Warhol, three paintings by Jasper Johns, one Robert Rauschenberg “Combine,” two paintings by Roy Lichtenstein, four paintings by Gerhard Richter, and a painting and sculpture by Cy Twombly. Works by Brice Marden, Eric Fischl, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Charles Ray, Takashi Murakami, Katharina Fritsch, Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, and John Currin round out the gift.

“We are so grateful to Stefan and Gael for the extraordinary gift of the very best works from their collection of contemporary art, which cements the status of our already strong contemporary holdings. Against the backdrop of our encyclopedic collection, the Edlis/Neeson gift allows us to build one of the richest narratives of art under one roof,” said Douglas Druick, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago,

The collection includes works that capture the collectors’ passion for art created at mid-century and beyond: the important work that paved the path to Pop Art, Warhol and the full flowering of the movement, and its imprint on later artists.

“I have donated works of art to museums for years but have been frustrated by their lack of exposure,” said Edlis. “The fact that the Art Institute proposed keeping the works on permanent view for 50 years in the Modern Wing was a totally convincing argument for gifting the collection to the museum. Gael and I are delighted that these works of art will be in the Art Institute’s long-term plans.”

The 42 works will be installed in early 2016 in the contemporary art galleries on the second floor of the museum’s Modern Wing.

The Institute is at 111 South Michigan Avenue. For more information, www.artic.edu or 312-443-3600.

Andy Warhol, “Flowers,” 1964; the Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Edlis/Neeson Collection.

Roy Lichtenstein, “Woman III,” 1982; the Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Edlis/Neeson Collection.