Next date: January 5, 2025 10:00 am
The First Sunday of every month, the Barnes Foundation hosts an open house. Admission to the museum is free for all and there are events and activities in the museum and, when weather permits, outside in the garden. There’s also generally a special performance at 10:30 am (check here for this Sunday’s schedule)
About the Barnes Art Museum:
The modern building designed by architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien houses one of the finest collections of nineteenth and twentieth-century French painting in the world. The collection was assembled by Albert C. Barnes, a self-made pharmaceutical magnate who was also an avid art collector. Barnes was a controversial figure, but he was also a visionary educator who believed that art should be accessible to everyone.
The Barnes Foundation’s collection includes more than 6,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and African art. The collection’s highlights include:
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- Cézanne’s “The Card Players” is another famous painting in the Barnes collection. There are a number of versions of this work, but the Barnes Cézanne is the largest and most complex in the world.
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- Matisse’s “The Joy of Life” is a colorful and exuberant painting that celebrates the beauty of life.
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- Van Gogh’s “The Postman” was one of Barnes’ first acquisitions, and perhaps the most iconic item in the collection.
In addition to its permanent collection, the Barnes Foundation also hosts temporary exhibitions. The museum is open to the public and offers a variety of educational programs.
If you are planning to visit the Barnes Foundation on any day other than the first Sunday of the month, I recommend purchasing tickets in advance. You can also purchase a timed-entry ticket, which will allow you to skip the line.