Museum Visits: The New Barnes and the Michener

The warm and welcoming entrance to the new Barnes Foundation museum in Philadelphia.
 

I had been looking forward to a visit to the new Barnes Foundation Art Museum for quite some time.. We had visited the museum in its previous incarnation in Merion, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Due to local restrictions, and the restrictions of the foundation, visiting the Barnes was a complete pain in the ass in those days. After a contentious battle to break the conditions of Dr. Barnes will, and a controversial grab by the art/charity establishment, the collection has moved to a new museum in Philadelphia's museum district. Inside a severely plain stone box, they have recreated the interior and collection arrangement of the original museum. In addition, whether by accident or intent, visiting the new Barnes is also a complete pain in the ass. Limited numbers of visitors, timed tickets and a strange arrangement makes it rather user-unfriendly.  

 What is interesting is the arrangement and juxtapositions of the works, espousing Barnes' theories about art and design connections (whether interesting or just whacko I'll leave to others to judge). In addition, the framing of many works was interesting, in that it showed the taste of Barnes and the period.

 Works are mostly tightly grouped, in fairly small rooms, along with African artifacts, early American iron work and furniture, etc. There are some masterpieces here, along with many smaller and lesser works, which makes the collection interesting in that it is a personal statement more so than a curated collection of a particular school or history of art.

 Some of the small works (which can often be overlooked in large institutions) are really gems, such as the Demuths, and there are some nice examples of  Prendergast and Mattisse. If you are at all interested in art, worth the visit, if only to see a different take on the museum arrangement and experience.

Wish I had some pictures taken inside, but of course they don't allow that. You can see some images on the Barnes website.

 

Entrance to the Michener Museum of Art

 

The next morning we visited the Michener Museum of Art in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. A wonderful small museum, with a collection that features local artists and craft workers. There is a good selection of works from the school of Pennsylvania impressionism, which to my view, seems a bit "grittier" and realistic than, for example, the "Old Lyme" artists.

 

 The Twins: Virginia and Jane, 1917 by Joseph Pearson. 60 x 72 inches.

The painting shown here, "The Twins", is one of the most arresting in the collection. I know that every time we see twins represented we immediately want to compare it to Diane Arbus, but there is something about this painting that makes it hard to look away.

 

 

 

 

 

At the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Your professor in front of a Barnett Newman painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Even though it would mean a long day of museums, the travel logistics required a full day spent in Philadelphia museums. Since  have been to the Phildadelphia Museum of Art, I tried to limit what we would view and not get "museum fatigue". Even trying to be casual about the visit, it is such a treasure trove that it was too easy to keep moving on and on.

We did get to see the Vermeer Young Woman Seated at a Virginal currently on loan to the museum. This is one of the last paintings by Vermeer, and one of the most recent to be authenticated. This discovery made quite a splash in the art world, and while accepted as Vermeer (apparently the canvas is from the same bolt as used for other Vermeer works) it is still questioned by some. One theory is that it was actually done by his daughter, or that there was assistance, or completion by someone else. Prior to this, I had only seen it in photos, so was anxious to view it in person. Having done so, I can say that if it is in fact by Vermeer, it is one of the most unappealing Vermeers I have seen.

There was an interesting exhibit in the gallery devoted to American crafts. One artist new to me was Bruce Metcalf, a jeweler/sculptor who created some very strange and eerie pieces.

Chance Encounter in the Wasteland
Bruce Metcalf, American, born 1949

 

You can find more about this artist at www.brucemetcalf.com/