Barnes Foundation collection - Cezanne & Matisse
 

I've enjoyed reading other posts on the Cezanne and beyond show in Philadelphia, and intend to go next week. I've heard a bit about the Barnes Foundation collection, which seems large in numbers, and I'm wondering if anyone can comment on the collection itself and how it may or may not complete the Phil. Art Museum show.

Well, this may be out of date, but we have to start somewhere and people can correct me.

The Barnes Collection, like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, was restricted by the terms of the donation to maintaining the collection as it was under the founder. Dr Barnes had some [possibly] strange ideas about art and hung pictures according to his own theories rather than chronologically or by school or artist.

I believe the trustees sued to change some of these restrictions, but I don't know how the suits came out. I will be as interested as you in the present state of the collection and access to it (that used to be a pain, too).

I'm kinda embarrassed to say we're going to the Barnes for the first time this Friday, although we've lived in the Phila. area almost forever!

That said, they require advance reservations, which can be made through their website:
http://www.barnesfoundation.org/

They will be moving (still not 100% settled) to the Parkway in Phila, but that's a couple of years off.

~Liz

The collection includes 69 Cézanne and 59 Matisse. I believe our guide at the Cézanne show said it was the largest collection in the world (or was it US?)

~Liz

There are plenty of Cezanne and Matisse at the Barnes, but its Renoir collection - 181 - is the largest in the world.

Believe the largest collection of Matisse's work is at the Baltimore Museum of Art - could be wrong, tho.

As noted above, Barnes had his own ideas on how best to display art, and it GREATLY contrasts with those of every other art museum. If you don't mind viewing rooms of paintings that have no (1) info beyond the painter's name or (2) rational motivation for being together, then the Barnes is almost unbeatable for its collection of Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisee.

One thing to add -- in the Barnes, photography is ABSOLUTELY forbidden. They do not permit ANY cameras OR cell phones in the galleries. I hesitate to think what they would do if they caught someone using a cell to take photos.

BTW, Page 2 of this PDF, an official press release from the BMA, states the museum's clear commitment to Matisse.

http://www.artbma.org/press/document...ionGiftWEB.pdf

Katina_1 I assume that you know that there is also a small Matisse exhibit at the Philadelphia museum. It's called 'Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera.' I saw both last week and enjoyed them. The Matisse is across the street in the Perelman building. There's a shuttle, but it's literally across the street and not necessary.

Our visit to the Barnes was the first thing we booked when planning our Philly trip and we were not disappointed. I would certainly visit both if you have the time. We had time for both but of the two, we enjoyed Barnes more just because of the vast Renoir collection.

I've been to the Barnes Museum twice. The first time I had no idea what to expect, and I was <u>totally</u> overwhelmed. The collection of artwork is amazing, but it made absolutely no sense to me why Dr. Barnes chose to hang certain pieces of art next to each other.

The second time I visited, we made sure that we were able to get on one of the free docent tours which are available. The tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis, so check the website to find out when they are offered. The docent that we had was EXCELLENT, and his explanations behind Dr. Barnes' method of displaying his art put the whole display into perspective. It suddenly made sense. The free docent tour will definitely help you to enjoy the Barnes experience to its fullest.

Have a great time.

Robyn :)>-

Thanks for your many helpful comments, and I'm looking forward to the collection with my expectations set appropriately. And thankfully, I'm used to the pleasantly eccentric requirements of founders such as Isabella Stewart Gardner, one of my favorite places here in Boston

I'm not sure of Katrina's date for visiting the Barnes, but there are Funsaver 50% discounts for the Cezanne exhibit at the PMA (tomorrow), and for the Barnes (next week). http://em.mansellgroup.net/PhillyFun...webversion.asp

For anyone planning a trip to Philadlphia, Funsavers emails come out every Thursday with various (often 50% off) discounts for concerts, events, tours and other things of interest over the next 1-2 weeks. It's a good way to find unusual things to do/see on your visit.

Also, sorry that this is a time-sensitive post, but since I'm in for a penny . . . also a reminder that Art Star Bazaar is this weekend. A fabulous event for crafts, art, etc. (sort of like Etsy-live).

This thread and my recent day trip to the PAM has gotten me interested in going back for an overnight and the Barnes Foundation. The website says two hours (I guess in addition to the docent tour) is sufficient to see everything. Do you think it's enough time? Is it best to be there when the museum opens or is an afternoon ok (I'm asking about crowds)?

Hi CPG, that sounds about right. It also depends on whether you want to take a garden tour or not (or if it's available). DH & I visited the Barnes 3 years ago, and we were there for 3 hours total. Here's what I wrote:

<i>Our 9:30am reservation is the earliest for the day, and we found ourselves among plenty of visitors standing by at the door waiting for it to open.

We were one of the first few to be let in, and we signed up for the 10am docent tour. I think there are only 20 spots for the tour, so not everyone with a 9:30am reservation was able to get in the tour.

After putting my purse in the locker downstairs, we ventured into the Main gallery. It was a feast for the eyes. Dr. Barnes had intended this to be a teaching venue, so the paintings are hung in groups for comparison purposes, rather than your typical museum-style. I was taken aback by the huge number of paintings there. Barnes has the largest collection of Renoirs in the world - 181 of them, and plenty of works by Matisse, Cezanne and Modigliani.

After the tour, we roamed around the galleries on our own for another hour, before we headed out for a stroll in the arboretum. We left around 12:30pm and made our way back to the Merion station. </i>

I'd suggest going in the AM mainly because you have a better chance of catching a docent-guided tour (space is limited). And you probably will encounter the least crowds first thing in the morning.