Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia art museum Excerpt from Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Pennsylvania Museum of Art (this name it bore until 1938) was organized in connection with the 1876 World Exhibition in Philadelphia, timed to coincide with the centenary of the Declaration of Independence. The so-called Memorial Hall (English. Memorial Hall) in the Bezar style, transferred at the end of the exhibition for the still not rich museum exposition.

In 1919, by decision of the city authorities in the Fairmount quarter, construction began on a new museum building in the neoclassical style. Freemasons took an active part in laying the foundation for the museum building and financing its construction. In 1928, the new building (popularly nicknamed "the great Greek garage") received its first visitors.

Masterpieces

The Uzey collection is famous mainly for the works of Pennsylvania artists (in particular, Thomas Eakins) and modern painting masterpieces, among which are "Dance in the Moulin Rouge" by Toulouse-Lautrec, "Big Bathers" by Renoir, "Soft construction with boiled beans" by Salvador Dali , as well as the most famous works of Marcel Duchamp ("Nude, going down the stairs", "Bride undressed by her bachelors", etc.).

Building

The Laval Building ends from the west the perspective of Benjamin Franklin Boulevard. Since 1929, the administration is also responsible for the nearby one. In 1999, the Ruth and Raymond Perelman building, a remarkable example of the Art Deco style (1929), was acquired for exhibitions.

In October 2006, a contract was signed with Frank Gehry to build a new wing of the Art Museum. Allocated for these purposes. As of 2012, construction was still in progress.

Neighborhood

There is a small park under the museum Eakins oval, named after the most famous Philadelphia artist. In the middle there is an equestrian monument to George Washington (1897) on a lush pedestal. Not far from the entrance to the museum there is a monument to Rocky Balboa: in all films about this hero, the external staircase of the museum appears.

The history of the Philadelphia Museum of Art began with the 1876 world exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the US Declaration of Independence. The exhibition, called the Centennial Exhibition, was held at Fairmount Park. One of the elements of the exhibition was the creation of a museum and the demonstration of works of art, sculpture and architecture.

Museum in the background of downtown Philadelphia

Construction of the modern museum building began in 1919. It is made in the Greek style with columns and sculptures of Greek gods.

The Museum of Art positions itself as one of the largest museums in the United States; its collections contain more than 225 thousand items, some of which are exhibited in more than 200 galleries. In addition to permanent collections, the museum exhibits 15-20 specialized exhibitions annually. Some of them, such as exhibitions of works by Paul Cézanne or Salvador Dali, attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is famous for more than its architecture and collections. The museum has appeared in the popular Rocky film series, in particular, the character of Sylvester Stallone ran up the steps of the main building of the museum, training before his fights. A bronze statue of Rocky is installed near the entrance to the museum.

At the end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway, right in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is the Eakins Oval, a small area surrounded by a roundabout. It is often used during city events, concerts and parades. At the same time, car traffic is closed. Thus, the city's biggest events take place against the backdrop of the towering art museum building. Also in front of the museum on Eakins Oval is another important monument- memorial to George Washington.

Philadelphia Museum of Art(eng. Philadelphia Museum of Art ) - Art Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

1. History of creation

As you know, Philadelphia was founded by William Penn. The region rich in forest at that time was named Pennsylvania (Sylvia - forest; Spanish selva - thickets, forest).

The city has in translation the name "City of Brotherly Love" (meaning of the name in Greek). In Philadelphia that year, the Second Continental Congress of the thirteen North American states adopted the Declaration of Independence from the British Empire. In 1781, during the Revolutionary War of 1775-1783, Philadelphia became the capital of the "united colonies", and in 1790-1800 - the first capital of the United States, the largest city North America... The memory of its own short-lived "capitalism" prompted the city leadership to take pompous events, including the holding of the World Exhibition. The exhibition was held this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Earlier, the World's Fair was held in London, which resulted in the creation of the future Museum of Kings Victoria and Albert. Concerned about raising the profile of the City of Philadelphia in the world, city leaders were able to establish a museum as well. This is how the Philadelphia Museum of Art was founded in the late 19th century.

2. Buildings

Memorial Hall - the first premises of the Museum of Art

Vincent van Gogh. "Sunflowers", 1889

Already in the second year (May 10, 1877) at the end of the exhibition, the art museum opened its doors for the first visits. We used the premises of the Memorial Hall, created in the historical style (eclecticism), involved in the exhibition.

The museum's collections grew along with the prestigious ambitions of the Pennsylvanians. Main building modern museum Arts was founded in the city by the mayor of the city, Thomas B. Smith. The first section of the museum premises was completed in the city. The building is made in a pompous neo-Greek style with luxurious and long grand staircases.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, at the forefront of the American public life business dealers came out, far from art, but quickly earned money. They began to invest in land, estates, trips to Europe. Among the acquired items were works of art, which were actively sold by art Western European firms or auctions. The big money and pride of American businessmen will make them the main buyers, and the prices for works of art will become exorbitant.

Newly minted Soviet businessmen, ignorant politicians and unprofessional merchants from the USSR also joined the process of selling their own art collections. Lack of professionalism and lack of patriotism made it possible to sell abroad both captured art collections from estates and palaces, and museums in the country. Museum works of art from Moscow, Pavlovskaya, Kiev, St. Petersburg have enriched art collections - Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Australia, France, USA. Thus, the Philadelphians were acquired from the Hermitage - "The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite" (Nicolas Poussin).

V Western Europe purchased:

Nicolas Poussin. "Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite"

3. Perelman's house

Perelman Gallery

The architectural firms Zantzinger, Borie and Medary designed and built the Perelman House in 1927 in an Art Deco style. The structure at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Firemount is credited as one of Philadelphia's finest structures. The building became the home and headquarters of the insurance company from 1927 to 1972. Then there was a second owner, and the insurance company also left the premises in 1999. - The building was acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, making it a branch dedicated to the storage of graphic collections, photographs and costumes ... But the building has been meticulously restored and adapted for museum requirements. The tradition of charity and attempts to relieve social tension by investing money of the rich in various public projects provided the museum with the opportunity to restore the building at the expense of private contributions. Moreover, in the United States there is a law on the abolition of sums of money spent on charity or philanthropy. On the tax bills of the rich, $ 240,000,000 was canceled, because it was this amount that the museum announced at the end of the restoration of the Perelman House. The area of ​​the Perelman gallery reaches 190 sq. m., there is a department of prints, drawings and photographs (150,000 samples), a department of textiles and costumes (30,000 samples).

Photo: Philadelphia Museum of Art