LAST CHANCE (FOR A WHILE): The Barnes Foundation

On July 3, the historic Barnes Foundation will close its Merion doors for the last time. Get in while you still can.

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LAST CHANCE (FOR A WHILE): The Barnes Foundation

POSTED: Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 10:00 AM

(nytimes.com)

On July 3, the historic Barnes Foundation will close its Merion doors for the last time. The Foundation’s controversial move from its current location (the original residence of the gallery’s benefactor, Albert Barnes) to a new space on the Ben Franklin Parkway is slated for later this year or 2012; this month is patrons' final opportunity to see the gallery in its original splendor.

And splendor it is. The 12-acre estate houses many of the most famous post-Impressionist and early modern works in existence, as well as a world-class arboretum for education and exploration.

Although the second floor of the house is closed, the more than 1,500 works on display in the main gallery (including about 50 works by Pablo Picasso and more Renoirs and Cézannes than you can count) sufficiently illustrate the Foundation’s pre-eminence in the art world.

The collection is breathtakingly diverse and ingeniously presented; the works, packed together on the walls of this historic home with very little space unused, both maximize impact and present the viewer with a beautiful panoply of color and style in a small, intimate atmosphere.

Some of the gallery’s highlights currently on view include Cézanne’s Mont Sainte-Victoire and Van Gogh’s iconic The Postman; a complete virtual catalog can be found online. Advance reservations ensure that the gallery is never overcrowded, giving patrons the space and quiet necessary to fully appreciate these fantastic works.

Although less crucial to one’s visit than the gallery itself, the surrounding gardens are lush and picturesque, perfect for a midafternoon walk or contemplating the mysteries of life.

Barnes Foundation, open through July 3, $15 (reservations recommended), 300 N. Latch's Lane, Merion, 610-667-0290, barnesfoundation.org.

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