A June Visit to the Barnes Foundation

I have followed the history of the Barnes Foundation since the 1990s. It is a tangled and controversial tale. So when my husband and I planned a trip to Pennsylvania to pick up our new chow chow puppy, we took a slight detour to Philadelphia to see the collection.

The purpose of the trip. Baby Henry

I learned about the Barnes Foundation while I was working at the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. One of our docents had traveled the short distance by train from Philadelphia to Merion, Pennsylvania to see the fabulous collection of Dr. Barnes. Over lunch for the next few months, we discussed the collection and the unconventional Dr. Barnes. The Barnes collection encompasses 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modiglianis and 7 Van Goghs. All hung amongst important pieces of American furniture, Americana, medieval paintings, Greek and African objects and multitudes of wrought iron hinges, locks, keys and handles.

Gallery at the Barnes Foundation

Yes, his dense arrangement is eccentric, but it was his intention to change the way we looked at art. Paintings and objects by different artists and from different time periods hung together echoing similar colors, themes and shapes. At times the displays can be overwhelming, but just around the corner will be a breath-taking piece of post-Impressionist art that you studied in art history 101.

Paul Cezanne "Bathers at Rest"

Vincent van Gogh "The Postman"

The controversy surrounding the collection begins with Dr. Barnes himself. In 1922, Dr. Barnes founded the Barnes Foundation as an educational institution. He purchased a location in Merion, Pennsylvania and by 1925 a building for the collection was completed. Barnes imposed many stipulations upon the Foundation including “nothing from the collection should be lent, sold or moved on the walls.” He forbade “any society functions commonly designated receptions, tea parties, dinners, banquets, dances, musicales or similar affairs.” In addition, the trust stipulated that the Foundation remain educational in nature and the collection only be open to the public a few days a week.

The original building Dr. Barnes constructed in Merion, PA, a Philadelphia suburb. (Photo credit: Dmadeo, Creative Commons Lic. 3.0) | Image source: boomeresque.com

Things became complicated when Albert Barnes died in an automobile accident in 1951. How could those left in charge of the Foundation continue to function as an educational institution while abiding by the stipulation of the trust? Fast forward to 2002 and the plan to relocate the Barnes art collection to downtown Philadelphia. This resulted in a heated years long court battle between defenders of Barnes original intent and those they saw as driven by greed.

Albert C. Barnes in front of his art collection in Merion, PA. | Image source: philanthropy.com

A must watch before visiting the Barnes collection is the 2009 documentary "The Art of the Steal." It is directed by Don Argott and follows the controversy surrounding the move of the Barnes Foundation and details the challenges to Albert Barnes will. I have strong feelings regarding this topic but will leave it for you to decide. Watch the documentary, visit the collection and if I see you at a cocktail party we can chat about what you think.

Trailer for the Documentary "The Art of the Steal."