Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Name	Philadelphia Museum of Art
Established	1876
Location	Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia
Type	Art museum
Director	Sasha Suda
President	Gail Harrity
Architect	Horace Trumbauer, Julian Abele, Howell Lewis Shay
Publictransit	SEPTA
Website	https://philamuseum.org/

Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is one of the largest and most important art museums in the United States, founded in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition. The museum's main building, an iconic Greek Revival structure, was completed in 1928 on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Its vast collections span over 2,000 years, encompassing artistic achievements from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

History

The museum's origins are linked to the Centennial Exposition of 1876, after which the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art was chartered. Its first home was in the Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. Under the leadership of director Fiske Kimball, the institution moved to its current monumental building, which opened to the public on March 26, 1928. Major expansions and renovations have occurred throughout its history, including the acquisition of the adjacent Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building in 2007 and the ongoing Core Project master plan led by architect Frank Gehry.

Architecture

The main building was designed by the architectural firm of Horace Trumbauer, with principal designer Julian Abele and project architect Howell Lewis Shay. Its design draws heavily from ancient Greek temple architecture, featuring a grand staircase and a pediment adorned with sculptures depicting Greek mythology. The building's vast interior includes the famous Great Stair Hall and a sequence of period rooms, such as a Chinese palace hall and a Japanese teahouse. The recent Core Project has reimagined interior spaces, creating new public galleries and a vaulted walkway beneath the east terrace.

Collections

The museum's holdings are organized into numerous curatorial departments. The European collection includes major works from the Early Netherlandish period, the Italian Renaissance, and Impressionism. The American art department features significant paintings, furniture, and silver from the colonial period through the 20th century. Other major collections include extensive Asian art, with strengths in Chinese and Japanese art, arms and armor, and the renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art textile collection, which is one of the finest in the world. The museum also oversees the historic houses Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove.

Notable works

Among its thousands of objects, the museum possesses an exceptional array of masterpieces. Key highlights include Rogier van der Weyden's *The Crucifixion*, a large diptych from the 1460s, and Thomas Eakins's monumental *The Gross Clinic*. The museum holds the largest collection of works by Marcel Duchamp outside of France, including his enigmatic *The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even*. Other iconic works include Vincent van Gogh's *Sunflowers*, Auguste Renoir's *The Large Bathers*, and a superb collection of Constable landscapes. The Armor Gallery features a spectacular procession of European and Japanese armor.

Management and governance

The museum is a non-profit institution governed by a Board of Trustees, with current leadership including director Sasha Suda and president Gail Harrity. It operates with funding from endowment income, membership contributions, grants from entities like the William Penn Foundation, and city support via the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. The museum collaborates closely with other local institutions such as the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum, and the Fabric Workshop and Museum. Key supporting groups include the Women's Committee and the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

In popular culture

The museum's exterior is globally recognized as the "Rocky Steps" after its starring role in the 1976 film *Rocky*, where the titular character, played by Sylvester Stallone, trains by running up the front staircase. A bronze statue of the fictional boxer, created for *Rocky III*, stands near the base of the steps. The building has been featured in numerous other films and television shows, including *Mannequin* and *National Treasure*. Its iconic facade and steps are a major tourist attraction and a frequent site for public events and charity runs.

Category:Art museums and galleries in Philadelphia Category:Museums established in 1876 Category:1876 establishments in Pennsylvania