Museum Of The American Revolution
Located just steps from Independence National Historical Park and the many historic landmarks that are central to the founding of the nation including Independence Hall and Carpenters Hall, the Museum of the American Revolution shares the story of the American Revolution by gracefully combining technology, artifacts, and lifelike tableaus for an immersive and interactive museum experience.
Those looking to gain a private look through the museums core exhibition can schedule a 60-minute early access guided tour, available at 9 a.m. Thursday through Sunday for groups of 12-20 people . A special version of the guided tour, which focuses on the museums new When Women Lost the Vote exhibit, is also available. To learn more and plan your private tour, .
Elizabeth Vige Le Brun Madame Du Barry
This is a portrait of Madame du Barry, Louis XVs last mistressindeed the last official mistress of a French king ever. It is one of three portraits of her by the artist, Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun, who was one of the most fashionable portrait painters of the period. Indeed, given du Barrys considerable political power, this is a relic of a period when active women were surprisingly prominent. The portrait shows du Barry as a woman who had the air of youth despite being 38. She is dressed in the new informal styles promoted by Marie Antoinette and has entirely unlined pink skin along with the suggestively almond-shaped eyes for which du Barry was famous.
Virtual Lesson: Museum Looks And Picture Books
To register, call 215-684-7582.
- Book: Pitter Pattern by Joyce HesselberthMuseum Tour: Patterns
- Book: A River by Marc MartinMuseum Tour: Imaginative Landscapes
- Theme: Squiggles, Colors, Emotions, Oh My!Book: Niko Draws a Feeling by Robert Raczka & Simone ShinMuseum Tour: Abstract Art
- Theme: Window to the WorldBook: Windows by Julia Denos & E. B. GoodaleMuseum Tour: Inside/Outside Architecture
You May Like: Natural History Museum Los Angeles Free Day
Philadelphia Museum Of Art
As one of the largest museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art invites visitors from around the world to exp Photo Credit: Photo by Anthony Sinagoga for PHLCVB
Beginning with a grand legacy during the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, the Philadelphia Museum of Art came about as a way to encapsulate for future generations the mission of artistic appreciation, conservation, and human achievement. Over the decades and generations of acquisitions and collections, the Museum of Art has grown to one of the nation’s foremost premier art museums with a permanent collection boasting over 227,000 artistic artifacts from paintings to sculptures.
Not only does the Philadelphia Museum of Art value visual artistry, but the famous institution also values objects with a variety of intrinsic values. The museum holds over 200,000 manuscripts, books, and periodicals with an estimated 1.6 million other documents to round out their non-visual acquisitions.
Jupiter And Callisto Attributed To Karel Philips Spierincks
Jupiter and Callisto attributed to Karel Philips Spierincks depicts on the left, Jupiter, disguised as Diana, goddess of the hunt, embraces the nymph Callisto.
In Greek mythology, Callisto was a beautiful young nymph, which attracted Zeus attention. Zeus transformed himself into the figure of Diana to seduce and raped her in this disguise.
Later, just as she was about to be killed by her son when he was hunting, she was set among the stars as Ursa Major the Great Bear. She was the bear-mother of the Arcadians, through her son Arcas by Zeus.
Mont Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne is part of the Mont Sainte-Victoire series of paintings. Cézanne enjoyed a magnificent view of the soaring mountain from across the valley and painted many different versions.
Cézanne first painted Mont Sainte-Victoire in 1870, beginning his decades-long fascination with the subject.
Paul Cézanne created more than thirty paintings and watercolors of Mont Sainte-Victoire.
Read Also: The Museum Of Russian Art
Prometheus Bound By Peter Paul Rubens And Frans Snyders
Prometheus Bound by Peter Paul Rubens and Frans Snyders depicts the punishment of Prometheus. The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock.
Each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, which would then grow back overnight to be eaten the next day again.
In ancient Greece, the liver was thought to be the seat of human emotions. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a Titan who defies the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity, an act that enabled progress and civilization.
As a consequence, Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, sentenced the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. Prometheus was eventually freed by the hero Heracles .
Woman With A Pearl Necklace In A Loge By Mary Cassatt
Woman with a Pearl Necklace in a Loge by Mary Cassatt is one of a series of theatre scenes in Paris created by Cassatt in the late 1870s.
This work shows a woman, assumed to be her sister Lydia seated in front of a mirror with the balconies of the Paris Opéra House reflected behind her.
This painting demonstrates the influence of Edgar Degas, one of her close friends, particularly in the depiction of the effects of the lighting. Cassatt and Degas had a long period of collaboration.
The two had studios close together, and Degas got into the habit of visiting Cassatts studio and offering her advice and help. He also introduced her other Impressionist artists and the citys nightlife.
Recommended Reading: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Admission
Philadelphia Museum Of Art: Tickets & Tours
- Sort by:
- Default Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, popularity, user preferences, price, and bookings made through Tripadvisor.
- Lowest Price Tours, activities and experiences bookable on Tripadvisor, ranked according to the prices offered by our partners.
- Name
Manet’s Magnificent Rendering Of A Naval Battle
One of the most fascinating pictures in the museum is Manet’s 1864 painting of a U.S. Civil War naval battle that occurred off the coast of France. “The Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama” commemorates the June 19, 1864, confrontation that saw the Union’s warship Kearsarge sink the Confederate raider Alabama. The action was fought off the coast near Cherbourg, France.
Manet relied on descriptions from people who witnessed the battle from the shore to make this painting. He worked quickly, with the painting displayed publicly less than a month after the Alabama sank.
The museum calls this Manet’s first seascape. It’s an action-filled painting that is really exciting and well worth seeing.
Close-up of Mary Cassatt’s “Family Group Reading”
Also Check: Cheap Parking Near Intrepid Museum
The City’s Most Famous Fictional Boxer Is Immortalized At The Museum
One of the most iconic scenes from the 1976 movie Rocky was when the boxer, played by Sylvester Stallone, ended a jog by sprinting up the museum’s wide steps and posing at the top.
Years later, the city honored the movie by erecting this Rocky statue. At one point, I remember the statue being at the top of the steps. But now it has been moved to a garden spot nearby, presumably because of the crowd that lines up to take photos.
Princess X Controversial For More Than A Century
“Princess X,” completed between 1915 and 1916, was pulled from display in Paris, with some believing it to be obscene. The Romanian-born artist, Constantin Brancusi, insisted the 2.5-foot-high piece was a representation of Marie Bonaparte, with the spheres at the base resembling, in his words, her “beautiful bust.” But as the museum’s display points out, “We might also see the metallic cylinder and spheres as phallic.”
My imagination must be limited because I certainly don’t see a woman’s figure when I look at the piece. How about you?
The charming “Portrait of Mademoiselle Legrand” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Don’t Miss: Fine Arts Museums Of San Francisco Jobs
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity From The Sky By Benjamin West
Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky by Benjamin West depicts the American founding father, conducting his kite experiment to ascertain the electrical nature of lighting.
This dramatic painting commemorates the 1752 experiment in Philadelphia in which Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that lightning is a form of electricity.
West was born in Pennsylvania, in 1738, when the American colonies were still part of the British Empire.
While he was in London, West befriended Franklin, a fellow Pennsylvanian, but did not create this painting of the American statesman until after his death.
West created this oil on slate, as a study for a larger, but an unrealized portrait.
The Battle Of The Kearsarge And The Alabama By Douard Manet
The Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama by Édouard Manet commemorates the Battle of Cherbourg of 1864, which was a naval engagement of the American Civil War.
The naval battle was between the Union cruiser USS Kearsarge and the Confederate raider CSS Alabama. Many spectators were able to see the action from the coast of France and saw the USS Kearsarge sink CSS Alabama.
Within one month of this battle, Manet had completed this painting, even though he had not witnessed the action himself. Manet relied on press descriptions of the battle and visits to Cherbourg to see the Kearsarge and compose this artwork.
This painting was the first known seascape by Manet with his imaginative depiction of the naval battle fought off the coast of France. The C.S.S. Alabama, the scourge of Union shipping, is shown sinking by her stern.
Also Check: Top Museums In San Diego
A Van Gogh Masterpiece From His Second Sunflower Series
Van Gogh famously painted two series of paintings focused on sunflowers. The museum’s piece is from the Arles series, painted in 1888 and 1889. According to the museum’s website, it isn’t known whether this piece is one of the first in the series, painted in 1888, or a copy made the following year.
Either way, it is a masterpiece of brilliant color and a must-see on any visit to the museum.
Useless When Visiting The Pma
I downloaded the podcast and loaded it onto my iPhone, as well as, my kids’ iPod nanos thinking we could use podcast while viewing the various objects being described.Once we arrived at the Museum, it was very clear very quickly that I was the only person they had ever met who wanted to do this. The first problem is that this Highlights tour is VERY different from the Museum’s highlights audio tour — different objects, different stops, different numbering system, etc. If you think you will be able to find the podcast stops by using a museum map of the various galleries, you will again be disappointed. This also will not line up.I was finally told by a staff member that the “official” answer is that the podcast was meant for home listening and not for viewing the actual objects at the museum. Yes, the staff is that incompetent! The left hand clearly does not communicate with the right hand.If I could rate this podcast with zero stars, I would.
You May Like: Rochester Museum And Science Center
Noahs Ark By Edward Hicks
The Death of Sardanapalus by Eugène Delacroix depicts the tale of Sardanapalus, a king of Assyria, who, according to an ancient story, exceeded all previous rulers in sloth and decadence.
He spent his whole life in self-indulgence, and when he wrote his epitaph, he stated that physical gratification is the only purpose of life.
His debauchery caused dissatisfaction within the Assyrian empire, allowing conspiracies against him to develop. Sardanapalus failed to defeat the rebels, and then enemies of the empire join the battle against him.
When Sardanapalus last defenses collapsed, to avoid falling into the hands of his enemies, Sardanapalus ordered a considerable funeral pyre.
On funeral pyre were piled all his gold and valuables. He also ordered that his eunuchs and concubines be boxed inside the fire to burn them and himself to death.
The kings act of destroying his valued possessions, including people and goods, in a funerary pyre, demonstrates his final depravity.
New Generation Of Leadership For Iconic Civic Institution
An accomplished director, curator, and community builder, Suda joins the PMA from the National Gallery of Canada, where as director and CEO she broadened and deepened the gallerys relevance to diverse audiences across Canada.
“After an extensive international search, our Board has elected Sasha Suda as our new Director and CEO,” said Leslie Anne Miller, Chair of the Board of Trustees. We believe Sashas arrival will mark a new era of growth and civic engagement for the museum. She is an accomplished arts scholar with an inspiring vision for the museums future and a proven commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. Sasha is the leader we need at this transformational moment.
I am honored to be joining the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which I have long admired, said Suda. With its exceptional artistic program and internationally renowned collection, the museum is one of the worlds most important cultural institutions. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board, the internal teams, and our partners to enhance the museums relevance and build on its success locally, nationally, and globally.
Osagie Imasogie, Chair of the Board of Trustees Search Committee, noted, Sashas record of excellence in arts leadership, strategic vision, and commitment to authentic collaboration impressed our Search Committee and our entire Board. I join Leslie in offering our deepest thanks to the Search Committee for the work that led to this superb outcome.
You May Like: Tickets For Museum Of African American History
Waterfalls By Katsushika Hokusai
A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces by Katsushika Hokusai is a series of landscape woodblock prints by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai.
Completed between 183334 and containing eight prints, it was the first ukiyo-e series to approach the theme of falling water.
The waterfalls take up most of each print, dwarfing the scenes human inhabitants, which are rendered by Hokusai with a powerful sense of life, reflecting his animistic beliefs.
The Thrill Of Discovering A Painter Whose Work Captures Your Imagination
One of my greatest joys when visiting an art museum is discovering an artist whose work speaks to me for the first time. On this visit, the artist was Italian-born Giovanni Boldini, who spent most of his career as a portrait painter in Paris.
The museum only has two of his works, and oddly enough neither is a portrait. His 1873 landscape “Highway of Combes-la-Ville” is fantastic. The colors jump off the canvas to the point where it feels 3-D. In fact, from a distance, the painting looks almost like a color photo.
Unfortunately, the display didn’t offer any information about the painting. I would love to know more about it.
Picasso’s “Old Woman ” in the Modern Art Gallery
Recommended Reading: 9 11 Memorial And Museum Tour
Get Inspired At The Citys Cultural Center
Explore the citys cultural hub. The third largest museum in the US, you can browse and get a closer look at more than 225,000 pieces. Hop-off the Philadelphia bus tour right outside the front door and get inspired inside.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art sits on a rise at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Fairmount Park. It was first established in 1876 in conjunction with the nations first centennial, housing the Memorial Hall. But the location was considered too far removed from the majority of the populous. The decision was then made to build a new museum on the site of the Philadelphia waterworks.
The eye of the tiger
Re-enact cinematic history on the museums 72 steps. The steps featured in the 1976 film Rocky during the classic training montage. The iconic scene has led to the museums main entrance being known as the Rocky Steps. Theres even a bronze statue of the films title character placed at the base perfect for a holiday snap.
Other interesting facts about the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Portrait Of Camille Roulin By Vincent Van Gogh
Portrait of Camille Roulin by Vincent van Gogh is a portrait of the youngest son of the postman Joseph Roulin, a friend of Van Goghs. When his portrait was painted, Camille was eleven years of age.
The Roulin Family all had their portraits painted by Vincent van Gogh in Arles between 1888 and 1889. The family consisted of Joseph, his wife Augustine, and their three children: Armand, Camille, and Marcelle.
Although Van Gogh loved to paint portraits, it was difficult for financial reasons for him to find models. So, finding an entire family that agreed to sit for multiple paintings was a bonus.
Joseph Roulin became a good and supportive friend to Van Gogh during his stay in Arles. Van Gogh truly admired Joseph and went to great lengths to capture his character.
Read Also: Science Museum Virtual Field Trip
Van Gogh Renoir And Many More Great Artists
Philadelphia’s main art museum opened in 1928 on a hill at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a wonderful location that provides a sense of grandeur even before a visitor sees any of the masterpieces inside the main building.
Because the sheer amount of art can be overwhelming, on this visit we focused only on two sections. The first was European Art 18501900, which included paintings by Renoir, Manet and Van Gogh, among others. The second was the Modern and Contemporary Art wing, which contains one of the largest collections of Marcel Duchamp.
Following are some highlights of what we saw.
“The Battle of the Kearsarge and the Alabama” by Edouard Manet
Philadelphia Attractions Offering Private Tours
Reserving a private tour with a knowledgeable guide will help you and your group gain a better understanding and perhaps uncover little known details during your visit to Philadelphias many museums and attractions. Below are just a few of the museums, attractions, and historic sites offering private tour experiences. Each organization has signed the PHL Hospitality Health Pledge, signaling their commitment to uphold enhanced health and safety standards.
Read Also: Paris Modern Art Museum Pompidou
