If there’s one thing people of all ages and backgrounds can appreciate, it’s museums. Art museums, in particular, can evoke all kinds of emotions. Whether its tools uncovered from ancient Egypt, artwork from famous painters, or even a photo series taken last year, Philadelphia’s exhibits offer plenty of options to choose from.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
This museum is by far the most popular art museum in the city, with more than 240,000 pieces in its collections. In the current exhibitions, you’ll find an installation on how artists continued their work in France from the 1960s to 1970s, how text is used in fashion, ceramics from famous potters, Korean contemporary art, designs from Japan, and even paintings from Renaissance Venice. Entry to this museum costs $20 for an adult ticket, but with so many exhibitions and such a variety of art, it’s well worth the price.
The Barnes Foundation
If you’re a fan of impressionist art, then The Barnes Foundation museum will be a gold mine. This museum features the works of Cézanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, and other famous artists from that time. However, The Barnes Foundation isn’t reserved just for impressionist works; it also features various textiles from Native American jewelry to African sculptures and even Pennsylvania German furniture. Entrance to The Barnes Foundation is $25 for an adult, and the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday.
Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion Museum
Artwork isn’t just about paintings; it’s about anything created during a particular time. That’s what makes the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion Museum so fascinating. Ebenezer Maxwell built the mansion in the late 1850s, and now each floor has been recreated from a decade during that time so visitors can learn more about the Victorian era and how people lived. Adult tickets cost only $7, and you can book one of the four tour times on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Philadelphia’s list of art museums wouldn’t be complete without mention of the oldest art museum in the country. Painter and scientist Charles Willson Peale, sculptor William Rush, and other artists and business leaders founded it in 1805 to promote the arts and curate some of the best artwork at that time.
The museum is most known for its permanent collections of 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from paintings to sketches to photography. Coming up later this season, the museum will feature exhibitions on the feminine form by women artists and Subversion and Surrealism in the Art of Honoré Sharrer. Entry is $15 for an adult ticket, and hours vary each day of the week.
Philadelphia is rich with history, and its museums are no different. Between these four best museums in Philly, you’ll find everything from classic works of art by household names to more modern, off-the-beaten-path artwork. If you’re a visitor or even a local, these four museums should definitely be on your bucket list.
Image via Pixabay
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