New Information on Barnes Foundation Saga

Inan interesting piece in the Los Angeles Times, art critic Christopher Knightwrites that new information may shed additional light on the infamous relocationof the Barnes Foundation from suburban Merion to downtown Philadelphia.  A new paperback edition of John Anderson’s “Art Held Hostage: The Battle Over the BarnesCollection” – a comprehensive account of the struggle over thefoundation – contains an epilogue that, according to Knight, shows thatrelocation may not have been necessary. Knight reads the epilogue to suggest that both a local politician (whowas convicted in 2009 on 137 counts of political corruption) and localcharitable foundations (including Pew Charitable Trusts) angled for therelocation notwithstanding that the California-based J. Paul Getty Trustwas apparently interested in helping the Barnes Foundation continue to operate atits historic site.  According to thearticle, “Anderson reports that Pew warned the Getty away from considering a full-scalerescue plan, ‘lest they be denounced as interlopers from afar.’”   The story further indicates that the funding ultimatelyraised to relocate the Barnes collection greatly exceeded the funding thatwould have been sufficient to maintain operations in Merion.

Thosewho teach the Barnes Foundation case may want to pick up a copy of the newpaperback edition of Anderson’s book just to review this epilogue.

JRB