Editing Barnes Foundation

{{Infobox LocalBusiness
| name = Barnes Foundation
| image =
| image_caption = Barnes Foundation on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
| type = Art museum, landmark
| address = 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
| neighborhood = Fairmount
| coordinates = 39.9606,-75.1724
| phone = (215) 278-7000
| website = https://www.barnesfoundation.org
| established = 1922 (original); 2012 (current building)
| founder = Dr. Albert C. Barnes
| owner = Barnes Foundation
| employees =
| hours = Wed-Mon 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
| products = Art museum, education
| status = Active
}}

'''The Barnes Foundation''' is an art collection and educational institution located on the [[Benjamin Franklin Parkway]] in [[Fairmount, Philadelphia|Fairmount]], housing one of the world's great collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and early Modern paintings. Founded by pharmaceutical entrepreneur '''Dr. Albert C. Barnes''' in 1922, the collection includes 181 works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (the largest collection in the world), 69 by Paul Cézanne, 59 by Henri Matisse, and significant works by Picasso, Modigliani, Rousseau, and many others.<ref name="barnes">{{cite web |url=https://www.barnesfoundation.org/about |title=About the Barnes |publisher=Barnes Foundation |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

The current Philadelphia building, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and opened in 2012, recreates the exact dimensions and artwork arrangements of the original galleries in Merion, Pennsylvania. The controversial relocation from Merion to Center City sparked legal battles and a documentary film but has allowed millions more visitors to experience Barnes's unique vision for displaying art in "ensembles" that emphasize formal relationships between objects.<ref name="visit">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/the-barnes-foundation/ |title=The Barnes Foundation |publisher=Visit Philadelphia |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Albert C. Barnes ===

'''Dr. Albert C. Barnes''' (1872-1951) was a Philadelphia native who made his fortune developing Argyrol, an antiseptic compound used to prevent infant blindness. With his wealth, Barnes began collecting art in 1912, initially buying Post-Impressionist works that mainstream critics and museums dismissed.

Barnes was a brilliant but contentious figure. He was denied admission to the Philadelphia establishment despite his wealth and developed a lifelong antagonism toward the city's cultural elite. He vowed that his collection would never join the [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] and wrote a will designed to keep his foundation in Merion forever.

=== Building the Collection ===

Barnes amassed his collection primarily between 1912 and 1930, acquiring:
* 181 Renoirs
* 69 Cézannes
* 59 Matisses
* 46 Picassos
* Significant works by Modigliani, Rousseau, Seurat, Manet, Degas, and others
* African sculpture, Native American art, and decorative objects

Barnes paid relatively modest prices before many artists achieved their current stature. The collection is now valued in the tens of billions of dollars.

=== The Merion Gallery ===

In 1922, Barnes established his foundation in '''Merion, Pennsylvania''' (a Philadelphia suburb), constructing a gallery building designed by Paul Philippe Cret. The galleries were arranged according to Barnes's unique educational philosophy, with paintings grouped by formal qualities (light, line, color, space) rather than chronology or artist.

Barnes restricted public access, famously denying entry to those he deemed unworthy—including critics, socialites, and art world figures. The foundation operated primarily as an educational institution.

=== Legal Battles and Relocation ===

After Barnes died in a car accident in 1951, the foundation faced decades of financial difficulties:
* Limited endowment (Barnes left most of his estate to Lincoln University)
* Restrictions on visiting hours limiting revenue
* Deteriorating Merion facility

In the early 2000s, the foundation's trustees sought permission to relocate to Philadelphia. After contentious legal proceedings documented in the 2009 film ''The Art of the Steal'', courts approved the move.

=== The New Building ===

The new Barnes Foundation building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway opened in '''May 2012'''. Designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the building:
* Recreates the exact dimensions of the Merion galleries
* Preserves Barnes's precise artwork arrangements (as mandated by his will)
* Adds modern amenities: auditorium, restaurant, classrooms, gift shop
* Uses natural light filtering through a canopy roof

== The Collection ==

=== Highlights ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Work !! Artist !! Notes
|-
| ''The Card Players'' || Cézanne || One of five versions; others in major museums
|-
| ''Acrobat and Young Harlequin'' || Picasso || Blue Period masterpiece
|-
| ''Le Bonheur de vivre'' (study) || Matisse || Key Fauvism work
|-
| ''Reclining Nude'' || Modigliani || Signature work
|-
| ''The Postman'' || Van Gogh || Portrait of Joseph Roulin
|}

=== Barnes Ensembles ===

Unlike conventional museums, Barnes arranged artworks in '''ensembles'''—groupings based on formal qualities like light, line, color, and space rather than artist, period, or movement. Each wall contains:
* Paintings hung at varying heights
* Decorative ironwork and furniture
* African and Native American art interspersed with European paintings

This arrangement reflects Barnes's educational philosophy that viewers should learn to see art by observing formal relationships.

=== African Art ===

Barnes was an early collector of African sculpture, recognizing its artistic merit when most viewed such works as ethnographic artifacts. The collection includes over 200 African pieces displayed alongside European paintings.

== Visiting the Barnes ==

=== Hours ===

* '''Wednesday-Monday:''' 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
* '''Closed:''' Tuesday
* Extended hours some days; check website

=== Admission ===

* '''Adults:''' Approximately $25 (check website for current pricing)
* '''Seniors/Students:''' Discounted rates
* '''First Sundays:''' Free admission monthly

Timed tickets are required; advance purchase recommended.

=== What to See ===

* '''The Collection:''' 24 galleries arranged exactly as Barnes intended
* '''Architecture:''' The light-filled modern building
* '''Special exhibitions:''' Rotating shows in separate galleries
* '''Gardens:''' Outdoor spaces surrounding the building

=== Tips ===

* Allow 2-3 hours for a complete visit
* No photography in the galleries
* Audio guides available
* The café offers lunch and refreshments

=== Getting There ===

* '''SEPTA Bus:''' Routes 32, 38
* '''SEPTA Broad Street Line:''' Spring Garden Station (10-minute walk)
* '''Parking:''' On-site garage (paid)
* '''Walking:''' 10 minutes from [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]

=== Nearby Attractions ===

* [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]] (5-minute walk)
* [[Rodin Museum]] (across the street)
* [[Franklin Institute]] (2 blocks)
* [[Fairmount Water Works]] (10-minute walk)

== See Also ==

* [[Benjamin Franklin Parkway]]
* [[Philadelphia Museum of Art]]
* [[Rodin Museum]]
* [[Art in Philadelphia]]
* [[Fairmount, Philadelphia]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://www.barnesfoundation.org Barnes Foundation Official Website]
* [https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/the-barnes-foundation/ Visit Philadelphia Guide]

{{#seo:
|title=Barnes Foundation Philadelphia - World's Greatest Renoir Collection
|description=Visit the Barnes Foundation, housing the world's largest collection of Renoir paintings plus works by Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso. On the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, this extraordinary art collection is a Philadelphia must-see.
|keywords=Barnes Foundation, Albert Barnes collection, Renoir museum, Cézanne Philadelphia, Impressionist art museum, Benjamin Franklin Parkway museums, best art museum Philadelphia, Barnes Museum
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Landmarks]]
[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Fairmount]]
[[Category:Benjamin Franklin Parkway]]
[[Category:Art Institutions]]