The Most Stunning Art Gallery in Philadelphia ๐ค Barnes Foundation ๐
During my recent trip to Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art was the main attraction, but I decided to swing by the nearby Barnes Foundation "on the side" since it was so close. Little did I know, it would blow me away! ๐คฏ The Barnes Foundation was established by the industrialist Albert C. Barnes and his wife, and its collection is built upon Mr. Barnes' personal art hoard. The collection is nothing short of astonishing, valued at a whopping $25 billion! It includes 180 Renoirs, 67 Cรฉzannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, and 7 Vincent van Goghs. Among the highlights are Cรฉzanne's "The Card Players," Van Gogh's "Postman Joseph Roulin," Matisse's "The Joy of Life," and Seurat's "Models." ๐ผ๏ธ๐จ The gallery's design is ultra-modern, and even if you're just there for the architecture, it's worth a visit. The massive Matisse piece in the first-floor lobby was commissioned by Mr. Barnes himself, and Matisse painted his beloved "Dance" theme for it. ๐๐บ To be honest, visiting famous museums or art galleries can be exhausting because there's so much to see and the buildings are often huge. But the Barnes Foundation is a compact, three-story gem. Each exhibition room can display dozens of artworks, allowing you to savor them at your own pace. Mr. Barnes had a thing for symmetry, so all the exhibits are symmetrically arranged, which is quite intriguing. Another feature I loved is that each important room has a central bench where you can sit and admire the art, along with a brochure detailing every piece in the room, so you don't have to squint at each label individually. ๐๐ช This is definitely an art gallery I'll visit again on my next trip to Philadelphia. ๐๐ผโจ #BarnesFoundationArtMuseum #PhiladelphiaTravel ๐๐จ
