The Biggest Art Heist of All Time?!?
The Postman
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
Read about the collector, Albert Barnes
Read about the fascinating history of the Albert Barnes Collection and the Philadelphia Art Museum–
Was it the ultimate heist? Much of the art world thinks so! The Art of the Steal
Watch the video, The Art of the Steal HERE–It’s a gripping story!
Please leave YOUR comments!!!
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I visit the Barnes Museum when it was in Merion. Barnes had designed the house/mansion to allow natural light to fall and illuminate the collections from room to room. His grouping and order of the paintings was testament to his acuity and keen awareness of the painters’ intents. As one walked from one room to the next, one could feel the warmth of welcome as did many artists who contributed to the inclusive collection. I don’t believe that ambiance can be replicated in Philadelphia. So glad I got there before it closed.
Also, it goes for the landscape gardens as well. Barnes had a fabulous collection of some of the most beautiful flora from all over the world.
It was such a beautiful property, now, gone forever.
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You are so lucky to have seen it in the way Barnes intended. Really wish I had!
Lori, the link only took me to Wikipedia’s lpage, no link to the video.
The video intro was full of ads….Finally after 3-4 minutes, the video was coming on. The sound is nor good on my computer and the video was to be one hour and 45 minutes. I will wait til i visit my daughter and watch on her computer !! Looks intriguing ~~
PS, The Wiki article only made me want to see the movie even more !!! Click on the word HERE in Lori’s paragraph to see the video/movie.Will see it next week YAY!
Marta—as I view it (from both my computer and iPhone) you can click “skip ads” after about six seconds of ads. It’s really worth watching!
Power, money and politics should not have been allowed to corrupt and overturn the final testament wishes of Dr Barnes. It looked like a wonderful home setting for art instead of a sterile museum.
Charitable foundations are not exempt from corruption and greed.
I love seeing art in old, historical homes as they were meant to be appreciated by the artist.
Meaningful story that is relevant still.
It’s amazing and disappointing to see!
Thank you Lori. That was an eye opener! Really enjoyed it.
Around 2010 I was visiting Philadelphia before it moved from the original location. It was one of the main things I wanted to see when we traveled in that area. Unfortunately it was not open to the public on any of the days of our trip. What a sad way for someone’s hard earned acquisition of their favorite art to be handled and “abducted” in the manner that it it was taken. I watched the video and was left with a sadness for Dr. Barnes, the community, and the school of art. When I finished watching it, I saw there was another video available to watch that apparently was telling a different side of the story. I have not watched it. I do know from personal experiences that their is a lot of power and corruption in the hierarchy of politics.
Beautiful art. But it does tell a tale of not so beautiful people
Lori – I attended St Joseph’s University in the late 1970s and early 80s. The Barnes Foundation was just off campus (it’s now part of the campus) and I was able to visit several times. Overwhelming and awe-inspiring are two words that immediately come to mind when remembering those visits. I watched from a distance as the proceedings to move the collection to Center City occurred and was saddened.
You were so lucky to see it! What’s your opinion on the move?
Personally, I’d’ve prefer the collection stay the way Barnes wanted it. That said, more people can see it now. I do remember rumors that Barnes “acquired” much of his collection by rather underhanded means. Who knows. At least it hasn’t been broken up and scattered.
I visited the new Barnes last summer (‘19). The video doesn’t follow the new building, which preserves Barnes’ vision exactly as before- same rooms, same paintings, same salon style arrangement, same furnishings. Candidly, I am torn. The art does indeed speak back and forth and the collection is incomparable. But to try to see a modest size Mary Cassatt near the ceiling of a very high wall left me in despair. How a student could have learned from her work there, I don’t know. I doubt that is how Mary would want her art to be seen. And the notion that mere mortals can dictate in perpetuity who can see art and where it can be held seems a tad presumptuous if not arrogant.
You just mentioned one of my “sorrows” while I was in university art program. There, in midst of learning and studying and exhibiting, was more presumptousness and arrogance than I knew ( I was a returning student at age 54) could exist. In the 25 years since then, I have seen it in all my art world connections.. so sad. I had one professor, who taught me at junior college level, who was not of their ilk. I won first in an out of state college art show and his work didn’t place. I apologized to him and he said, “There is nothing better for a teacher than his student to do even better.” Gotta love a guy like that!
I know this answer, but why not leave it where it was meant to be and do extensive repairs? Instead, break the law, become vulgar and greedy-then exactly duplicate it on your own property. How can that make sense? Adding insult to egregious injury, then follow Dr. Barnes’ whishes in your own will. I hope justice prevails and the same thing is done to the Annenberg’s dreams. I realize how small minded that makes me.
Small ?? nada.. just a great sense of justice !! Nice to read about these days…
I just read “The Art Forger” by B A Shapiro 2012
An interesting side on the Gardener Hiest
A good read