Interior, The Barnes Foundation. Image courtesy barnesfoundation.org
The early 20 th -century saw one of the greatest booms in collecting Impressionist art not on the banks of the Seine, but on the banks of the Schuylkill, the Potomac, the Hudson, and the Monongahela. While Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cezanne ruled in France, sugar, steel, and pharmaceutical magnates up and down the East Coast of the U.S. were revolutionizing the art world through their ruthless and opulent collecting. During this virtual program presented by Director Ross Karlan, look at some of the important families that created the Impressionist collecting boom, including the Havemeyer, the Phillips, the Mellon, and the Barnes families, analyzing their collecting strategies as well as the social and political implications each one had on the field. From the Havemeyers’ trend-setting collaboration with Mary Cassat to Alfred Barnes’ vehement anti-establishment mentality, these collections highlight an important part of art history that now forms the backbone of American museums.
This program is virtual and will take place at 6:30 pm Pacific / 9:30 pm Eastern.