Browsing the Barnes: An Unconventional Art Collection
An exuberant, eclectic collection, an unorthodox approach to display and a sprawling 12,000-square-foot (1,115-square-metre) gallery housed in a new post-modern building in a downtown location: it’s little wonder the world-renowned art collection of The Barnes Foundation is a considered a must-see for visitors to Philadelphia.
Collected over 40 years by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, a physician who made his fortune in pharmaceuticals and then devoted his life to art and art education, the massive, multibillion-dollar collection is fascinating and diverse. It ranges from vigorous, confident masterpieces by Matisse, van Gogh, Cézanne, Modigliani, Picasso and Renoir to a circa 1800 Zuni Pueblo earthenware jar rendered in graphic black and white; from colourful painted trunks created by 18th-century Pennsylvania German residents to a powerful, intricately carved copper alloy figure crafted by an anonymous member of the Bini (Edo) people in 16th-century Nigeria. Dr. Barnes famously departed from convention and instead of ordering the artwork by chronology or genre, continually rearranged groups of items according to colour, light and line. (This display approach has been respectfully reproduced in exacting detail – illuminated by state-of-the-art lighting – at the new gallery.) By juxtaposing items from varying time periods and cultures, Dr. Barnes formulated new theories about artistic education and aesthetics, and highlighted the universal craving for artistic expression.
Today, that spirit of intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning continues at The Barnes Foundation, just steps away from Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. In addition to the remarkable permanent collection, visitors can savour special exhibitions, take in a two-hour workshop on specific themes like architecture or visual patterns, or try family-friendly programs like an “art detective” gallery kit or a guided early-evening “pajama tour” (that’s right – kids get to explore the gallery in their pjs!)
Guests at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia have an exceptional opportunity to view this remarkable collection with the Barnes Foundation Package: relax in our luxuriously comfortable accommodations, enjoy breakfast for two at our acclaimed Fountain restaurant, known for its contemporary glass artwork and award-winning cuisine, then spend the day at the Barnes with two VIP, untimed tickets.
