New site of the Barnes Foundation collection - Photo by A. Pick 12/17/10
I watched the documentary, "The Art of the Steal", and I am not one that can ignore a controversy, good or bad. Quite frankly before seeing this film I had not heard of Dr. Albert C. Barnes or his art collection. They say his art collection is worth conservatively more than $6 billion. A book, Art Held Hostage by John Anderson details the battle that has ensued over the collection since Dr. Barnes death in 1951. The book says collection includes 69 Cezannes, 60 Matisses, 44 Picassos, 18 Rousseaus, 14 Modiglianis and 180 Renoirs and more.
All of this art is displayed on the walls of his unassuming limestone estate which is located in the Philadelphia suburb of Merion, PA. Dr. Barnes made his fortune in pharmaceuticals and in particular with the production and marketing of a substance called Argyrol, which most states used to prevent a form of blindness in newborn babies that can be caused by the disease gonorrhea. Just a couple of drops of Argyrol in the eyes of a newborn baby could prevent ophthalmia neonatorum which could lead to blindness.
As his wealth grew so did his desire for collecting impressionistic art. Dr. Barnes founded The Barnes Foundation in 1922 to promote the advancement and appreciation of fine arts. In 1940 he purchased the estate where the museum and botanical gardens are located and has added to it over time, not only art but fine furniture and artifacts as well. He wanted both the museum and gardens to be a living museum that would be used for educational purposes.
Inside The Barnes you find room upon room with art displayed as shown above. Of course we were not allowed to take our cameras in with us. My comment on this photo would be that either this was taken in the summer on a bright day or the photo has been altered a bit. The day I visited was a December overcast day leaving the unlit art a bit hard to see. It is interesting how the paintings are grouped and it was Dr. Barnes wish that the viewer of the collection would figure out the similarities on his own. At the bottom of each picture is a small brass notation with only the artist's last name. The manner in which these pictures hang are as they were on the day of Dr. Barnes death in 1951, no picture has been change.
The controversy is that it was Dr. Barnes wish and instructions in this last will and testament that no picture ever be sold or moved. Since his death there have been legal battle after legal battle to keep the museum as it is. It seems the battle is over as the new home for The Barnes Collection is now under construction on the Parkway in the City of Philadelphia with an opening date for sometime in 2012.
As we walked from the Barnes to the train station in Merion for our ride back to the city we would see these yard signs on display. I think it is a done deal though and a reminder that sometimes you don't get to have your dieing wish. I'm glad I got to see the collection in the environment that Dr. Barnes created and intended it to be always. On the other hand I am sure the art will find comfort in its new home, still on display for the world to see.
i've never heard of the Barnes collection either, but what a fascinating story! and what an amazing collection of art. wow. is the house going to go back to a private residence, or is it a tear down and lets build some apartments?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good question Casey. Here is the official word from The Barnes Foundation website:
ReplyDeleteThe Barnes Collection in Philadelphia
The design for the new building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects with its own internal garden and landscape design by Laurie Olin, respects the distinctive nature of the Barnes Foundation, evoking the experience of the existing galleries in Merion, PA, while also providing space to focus on the Foundation's core ideals of education and connection to the landscape.
The Collection will continue to be displayed in an exhibition space that replicates the hang of the art ensembles in the original galleries in Merion. The new galleries will be the same scale as the original galleries in Merion and will provide the same intimate experience intended by Dr. Barnes. The galleries will include a classroom on each floor to facilitate teaching and further the educational mission of the Foundation. There will also be an auditorium and a changing exhibition gallery - spaces that do not exist in Merion. These will bring Dr. Barnes's vision to greater numbers of students and visitors.
The Cret buildings and surrounding Arboretum in Merion will continue to be owned by the Barnes Foundation. The Arboretum will be open to the public and the horticultural programs will expand. The Foundation's rich archives will also remain in Merion and become more accessible to scholars.
interesting. it doesn't really say one way or the other, but it doesn't sound like it'll be torn down. I really like the fact they're respecting the way Barnes hung his art originally. You've seen photos of my walls. In 100 years, I'd love to think that whomever gets the majority of my art will arrange it the way I do, sort of haphazardly all over the place, and not use a laser-guided beam to make sure everything is perfectly straight and even! (I know I'm assuming a lot with that entire paragraph. I'll be lucky if it all doesn't end up haphazardly arranged in a dumpster!)
ReplyDeleteI guess the controversy is a little bit of "he said, she said", with the truth somewhere in the middle. Dr. Barnes had no heirs, so the fight was really whether to move the art or not. Part of the fight was with the neighborhood who didn't really want the traffic of museum goers coming in and out on the narrow neighborhood streets. My guess would be if anything at all happens with the property, that St. Joseph's University would end up with it. The university has a major chunk of property in this mostly residential neighborhood. Just from walking down the street it looks like the university has probably acquired bits and pieces of real estate over the years.
ReplyDelete