A Masterpiece Collection
For over four decades, Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951), a pharmaceutical magnate, curated an extraordinary collection of 900 paintings, featuring 59 works by Henri Matisse and 181 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This remarkable collection is now housed at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

The Origins of a Passion
Barnes’s journey as a collector began in 1912 when he sent his friend, painter William Glackens, to Paris to acquire art. Glackens returned with three Renoirs, sparking Barnes’s lifelong fascination with the artist. Later that year, Barnes traveled to Europe, further expanding his Renoir collection. His admiration for Matisse also began in 1912, influenced by the Steins, leading to a significant acquisition from Leo Stein.

Albert C. Barnes in front of Matisse’s The Music Lesson (detail), c. 1946. Photograph by Angelo Pinto, courtesy of the Pinto family. Photograph Collection, Barnes Foundation Archives, Philadelphia

Celebrating a Unique Bond
The exhibition, “Matisse & Renoir: New Encounters at the Barnes,” curated by Cindy Kang and Corrinne Chong, showcases this unique collection. The exhibit allows visitors to see these masterpieces in a new light, emphasizing the deep connection and mutual admiration between Matisse and Renoir.

Clockwise from top left: A reproduction of a painting by German artist Otto Dix, a reproduction of a painting by German painter Franz Marc, a reproduction of a painting that could be attributed to French painter Henri Matisse and a reproduction of a painting by Belarusian-born French artist Marc Chagall are seen during a press conference in Augsburg, southern Germany, on November 5, 2013, on the discovery of nearly 1,500 paintings including works by Picasso and Matisse looted by the Nazis. The prosecutors spoke to the press a day after German weekly Focus revealed police came upon the paintings during a 2011 search in an apartment belonging to Cornelius Gurlitt, the octogenarian son of art collector Hildebrand Gurlitt.

A Fresh Perspective on Masterpieces
Highlights of the exhibition include Renoir’s “The Seine at Argenteuil” and “Leaving the Conservatory,” as well as Matisse’s “Le Bonheur de Vivre” and “Studio With Goldfish.” The display sheds new light on familiar works, inviting viewers to appreciate them anew.

Renoir’s Influence on Matisse
Matisse’s work, notably influenced by Renoir, is a focal point of the exhibition. The display underscores how Renoir’s mentorship helped shape Matisse’s approach to figure painting, highlighting their artistic dialogue and shared creativity.