While the relocation of the renowned Barnes Foundation
from its home in Merion, Pa. to Central Philadelphia in 2012 may, for
some, still be controversial, the treasures within its walls most
certainly are not. The Barnes is home to the one of the largest single
collections of works by the great Pierre-Auguste Renoir, stunning
Matisse murals, and one of the world's most important assemblages of the
great Post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne, and a visit to the singular
collection amassed by Albert C. Barnes is both an educational experience
and a sensory delight.
The recently-opened exhibit titled
"The World is an Apple: The Still Lifes of Paul Cézanne," is a special
collection of works representing the artist's experimentation with the
use of varied and multiple perspective within the still life genre. "I
want to astonish Paris with an apple," he famously declared, and this
quotation at the entrance to the exhibit sets the stage for a small but
carefully constructed collection of 23 works that span the artist's
career. Cézanne is considered to be the bridge between impressionism and
modernism, and was a key influence on the work of avant-garde artists
like Picasso and Matisse. This exhibit of his still life work
illustrates his movement from impressionism to a more modernist use of
color to flatten shapes and alter perspective by focusing upon key
thematic elements: apples, a vase, a tablecloth or drape. Foreground and
background begin to advance and recede in the viewer's eye;
three-dimensional effects become one-dimensional, setting the stage for
abstraction and cubism of Cézanne's successors.
In amassing and arranging his vast collection, Barnes' emphasis on visual instruction and thematic appeal over formal presentation of the works resulted in installations that mix genre, form, period, size and shape; each wall is its own collection within the collection, and includes not just paintings, but furniture, sculpture, pottery and metalwork. These visual statements are designed to encourage visitors to see patterns of shape, theme and color, to recognize how seemingly unrelated works can gain meaning and coherence when presented as a group. Newcomers to the Barnes Foundation may find the collection overwhelming, however, especially given its unique presentation of the works. The limited size and scope of this exhibit is an excellent format within which to learn how to approach individual works; on their own or with the help of a docent, visitors learn to see details like changes in brush technique, color mapping, and perspective, to recognize theme and composition, all skills that serve to greatly enhance their experience of the Barnes collection and its dense, diverse installations.
Visitors both to the Cézanne exhibit and the main collection have the option of a docent-led tour, which is well worth the extra money; docents are well-schooled not just in the ins and outs of the Foundation, but on the lives of the artists and in general art history. Visitors may also use an audio tour guide, but it only covers selected works, and can be distracting. A morning visit is best, as space is limited and the building tends to fill up later in the day. The complex boasts both a full service restaurant and a café, but there are several restaurant options in the neighborhood as well as a Whole Foods with outdoor seating area for dining al fresco. There is also a small bookstore/gift shop featuring items related to the collection and exhibit.
The Barnes Foundation's permanent art collection contains 69 works by Cézanne, and related programming and lectures are scheduled throughout the duration of the exhibit; see website for details. The Foundation is located at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, about one hour and 20 minutes from the Monmouth County area. Building hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, until 9 p.m. Fridays, until 8 p.m. Saturdays. Hours change in September. Admission to the collections and exhibition is $29, $27 for seniors, $15 for youths/students, $14 for Cézanne-exhibit-only tickets, free for members. Tickets are available onsite, but advance purchase by phone or online is recommended. Call (215) 278-7200 for information, or visit http://www.barnesfoundation.org or on Facebook.
Photograph © 2012 The Barnes Foundation
Paul Cézanne, Pitcher and Plate with Pears (Pichet et assiette de poires), 1895–98, oil on canvas, 19 5⁄16 × 23 3⁄16 in. (49 × 59 cm), Private Collection (Courtesy Nancy Whyte Fine Arts, Inc)
In amassing and arranging his vast collection, Barnes' emphasis on visual instruction and thematic appeal over formal presentation of the works resulted in installations that mix genre, form, period, size and shape; each wall is its own collection within the collection, and includes not just paintings, but furniture, sculpture, pottery and metalwork. These visual statements are designed to encourage visitors to see patterns of shape, theme and color, to recognize how seemingly unrelated works can gain meaning and coherence when presented as a group. Newcomers to the Barnes Foundation may find the collection overwhelming, however, especially given its unique presentation of the works. The limited size and scope of this exhibit is an excellent format within which to learn how to approach individual works; on their own or with the help of a docent, visitors learn to see details like changes in brush technique, color mapping, and perspective, to recognize theme and composition, all skills that serve to greatly enhance their experience of the Barnes collection and its dense, diverse installations.
Visitors both to the Cézanne exhibit and the main collection have the option of a docent-led tour, which is well worth the extra money; docents are well-schooled not just in the ins and outs of the Foundation, but on the lives of the artists and in general art history. Visitors may also use an audio tour guide, but it only covers selected works, and can be distracting. A morning visit is best, as space is limited and the building tends to fill up later in the day. The complex boasts both a full service restaurant and a café, but there are several restaurant options in the neighborhood as well as a Whole Foods with outdoor seating area for dining al fresco. There is also a small bookstore/gift shop featuring items related to the collection and exhibit.
The Barnes Foundation's permanent art collection contains 69 works by Cézanne, and related programming and lectures are scheduled throughout the duration of the exhibit; see website for details. The Foundation is located at 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, about one hour and 20 minutes from the Monmouth County area. Building hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, until 9 p.m. Fridays, until 8 p.m. Saturdays. Hours change in September. Admission to the collections and exhibition is $29, $27 for seniors, $15 for youths/students, $14 for Cézanne-exhibit-only tickets, free for members. Tickets are available onsite, but advance purchase by phone or online is recommended. Call (215) 278-7200 for information, or visit http://www.barnesfoundation.org or on Facebook.
Paul Cézanne, Pitcher and Plate with Pears (Pichet et assiette de poires), 1895–98, oil on canvas, 19 5⁄16 × 23 3⁄16 in. (49 × 59 cm), Private Collection (Courtesy Nancy Whyte Fine Arts, Inc)
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