Great French Paintings From The Barnes Foundation: Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and Early Modern

by Barnes Foundation

The most eagerly awaited set of reproductions in art-book history: more than one hundred masterpieces of modern French painting from one of the world's fabled repositories of great art - the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania - are here published in full color for the first time. These paintings are the crown jewels of the extraordinary collection assembled in the early twentieth century by Dr. Albert C. Barnes, the bold and original collector who established the Foundation in 1922 as a school for the study of art and philosophy. Now, after six decades of limited access to visitors and a ban on color reproduction, the Barnes Foundation welcomes a wider audience through the publication of this magnificent volume. Manet, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Seurat, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rousseau, Soutine, La Fresnaye, Modigliani, Picasso, Braque, and Matisse - the list of artists gives only a hint of the splendors this book contains. Here are major landmarks of modern art that many know of but few have seen, including twenty-four Renoirs encompassing the entire span of his career...thirty monumental Cezannes, including bather groups, landscapes, still lifes, and portraits...Matisse's pivotal Bonheur de vivre, Three Sisters Triptych, and world-famous Dance mural (and eighteen other paintings and oil studies)...the finest of van Gogh's six paintings of Joseph-Etienne Roulin...Seurat's celebrated Models...the Douanier Rousseau's strange, unsettling Unpleasant Surprise...the tender portrait of young M. Loulou by Gauguin...a spectacular cluster of seven early Picassos. And this is only a sampling of the exhilarating visual banquet offered in these pages. Great French Paintings from The Barnes Foundation is the companion volume to an unprecedented exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. To describe the paintings and relate the achievements of Dr. Barnes as a collector and an educator, commentaries and essays have been provided by a dozen

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, France, Collections, Reference

318 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Lynne King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albert Barnes dedicated his life to creating one of the world’s finest art collections in a unique educational and cultural institution. We are dedicated to preserving this vision – for all who share a passion for art and a love of humanity. – Richard H. Glanton, President, The Board of Trustees July 1990 – February 1998

Whilst reading another art book, I was trying to locate a particular French painting and recalled that I had the book "Great French Paintings from The Barnes Foundation".

I felt a frisson of excitement and held my breath in anticipation as I opened this work again for the first time in fifteen years.

I had been working for SmithKlineBeecham, the pharma company, and in 2000 had gone to their Philadelphia office for a meeting. Jack, head of Corporate Security, a charming individual, questioned whether I liked art as he could get me an invitation to The Barnes Foundation. I’m so glad that he asked me that as this would indeed prove to be a memorable visit to the Foundation, located in Merion just outside of Philadelphia.

I lived in Aix-en-Provence for a year in 1991 and, of course, was very aware of the impressionist painters as I was exposed to the works of Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Paul Cezanne. However, the vibrancy of the colours in Gauguin’s paintings are the images that remain firmly entrenched in my mind. So to venture into this Gallery would, well there’s no other way to put it, prove to be a truly magical experience. Just thinking about this has brought back my sparkle, which has been lost for a while.

But this Foundation is not just about French paintings, which includes:

An extraordinary number of masterpieces by Renoir (180), Cézanne (69) and Matisse (60), provide a depth of work by these artists unavailable elsewhere. The collection includes works by Picasso, Seurat, Rousseau, Modigliani, Soutine, Monet, Manet, Degas and others. Yet this is only part of this incredible collection. Art from every corner of the globe is grouped with fine examples of antique furniture, ceramics, hand-wrought iron, and Native American jewelry. Breathtaking, priceless examples of art in all forms adorn these walls but The Barnes Foundation is much more than an art collection. It is the vibrant reflection of a life inspired by humanity and creative expression.

I feel extremely privileged to have breathed the air and sampled the atmosphere of this stunning facility with its mesmerizing collection of paintings. This book has indeed proved to be an absolute treasure. And in addition I have a brochure which explains the life of Dr Albert C Barnes, who established the Foundation in 1922.

This book is a testament to the beauty that is to be found on this wonderful planet of ours and, even after death, this beauty continues to give pleasure, be it in the form of art, music, books, architecture, etc. The list is endless…

And the brochure states it all:

This is truly one of the most unique places on earth – the Gallery and Arboretum are a celebration of life, art and creativity.

Yes…….And I want to punch the air like the tennis players who achieve success…

PS: I've just read that the Foundation moved in 2012. So it was good I visited it when I did.

http://fortune.com/2012/05/18/philade...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! Great history on Barnes, his Merion purchase in 1922 of the 12 acre Wilson Arboretum and a building to be an educational institution-- known as The Barnes Foundation, his collecting abroad and also with American artists in the WPA during the depression, his personal relationships with many artists, art dealers, and the Steins. Beautiful color plates with pages of text regarding the acquisition or other paintings at the time which influenced the artwork showcased. Paintings by Manet, Renoir (too many to count), Monet, Cezanne (again numerous paintings), Gauguin, van Gogh, Seurat, Toulouse Lautrec-- paintings I never saw before, Rousseau, Picasso (again never before seen images), Braque, Modigliani, Matisse including his Dance mural for Barnes, and Soutine and Roger de la Frenaye. This is a book I would love to own. A must read for anyone who loves this period in art.

[Margaret Czekay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book. Ive been to the Barnes many times and have always loved the way the art is displayed there in somewhat unusual groupings, which is a hallmark of the Barnes and to my way of thinking one of the things that makes it such a truly great art museum. This book grouped works by the individual artists and I have taught many of the works before as an instructor in a children's art appreciation program, so I knew the backstory of many of the individual pieces but there were some things I had not known. I never knew exactly how Dr Barnes had acquired his fortune nor the names of his favorite art dealers in Paris. Now I know that he was the inventor of the silver based ophthalmic solution that was put in my eyes as a newborn, as well as the eyes of pretty much every other baby boomer newborn in the US and other western countries as an infection preventative, to ward off bacterially caused blindness. Thanks to my father's experience as an army medic in WWII and his continued interest in scientific and medical topics, he had mentioned it to me at some point Thanks to this book, now I know that the Barnes is the art collection which Argyrol solution built, and that Dr Barnes influenced my life as a newborn way back in 1961, decades before I knew of or ever set eyes on his astounding art collection. I know now that he was responsible for making many of these artists popular and appreciated both in the US and abroad, and that although he was not himself African American he a lifelong very deep respect and appreciation for black churches, born out of his attendance as a young child at revival meetings with his devout Methodist mother. And because of those warm memories and emotions he was much more sensitive than other collectors of the time to both the artistic value of African art and the gifts and struggles of Black American artists. In due time this led to a very special relationship with Lincoln University, the historically Black university in Philadelphia, which was charged in Dr Barnes' will with appointing the trustees for his beloved art collection. I never knew the Barnes had any connection to any HBCU. In fact, when designing the original doorway to the Barnes collection, Dr Barnes insisted on incorporating African art motifs around the entrance, to highlight his view that they were both beautiful and influential to great art. If you are even remotely into art, this book is a wonderful look back in time and a highly personal peek into the creation one of the great collections of the art world.

[Tom Axworthy]

Albert Barnes ,a 20th century business man, physician and lover of art established one of the greatest collections of contemporary art in the world.The Barnes Foundation took the collection on tour in the 1990s and this volume reproduces the highlights with works by Renoir,Cezanne and Matisse.The Barnes Foundation tour was one of the art events of the age and this volume shows its glories with learned commentary to boot.

[GK Stritch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, five stars for the masterworks, as for the controversy, "Tis too starved an argument for my sword."(Burroughs quoting the bard).

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember walking into the Barnes museum in Merion, just outside Philadelphia, 25 years ago. I was overwhelmed by the shear number of famous and lesser known impressionist paintings stacked two and three high on the walls. What a delight to behold. This catalog was published while some of the paintings were on view in the Philadelphia museum of art, so that the Barnes could receive a much needed refurbishment. The color image quality is very good, and the accompanying text is informative.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful collection.

[Rebecca Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

this celebrated show came through DC while I was in art school.