If "Virginia is for Lovers," Philadelphia is Definitely for History Nerds, part 3

     Besides history, visitors to Philadelphia will find themselves surrounded by art and great food, two things that I'm really interested in.

    Philadelphia is a city of murals, often called the "Mural Capital of the World." They're everywhere, literally thousands of them. 

    A must-see is the Philadelphia Museum of Art (https://philamuseum.org/ ), with the exterior made famous, of course, in the famous training scenes from "Rocky", and, sure enough, it is not that unusual to see a visitor or two trying to make the run, or at least posing by the statue. Inside, visitors will find an amazing collection of art. There's a huge American art gallery, featuring local artist Thomas Eakins and many other works that American history buffs will recognize. There are also large collections of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Asian art, and medieval arms and armor. Spend hours or days, your choice.

    Next on your list should be the Barnes Foundation, maybe the most exciting and unexpected art museums I've visited. (https://www.barnesfoundation.org/ ). I'd never heard of the Barnes before our visit, but I was so glad to find it. The museum started with the collection of Albert C. Barnes, who made his fortune by co-developing a treatment for gonorrhea in the early twentieth century. In 1922, he founded the Barnes. The museums collections are mostly Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and Modernists, but the collection also includes ancient African, Asian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Native American pieces. The most interesting thing about the museum to me was that the art was arranged and exhibited in a way that resembles how Barnes himself displayed the works in his home. The museum is divided into many rooms, and, in each room, the art covers the walls and the displays, and they are not segregated by age, style, or region. You might find African, Greek, and Impressionist works grouped together. Sometimes, it seems there is no rhyme or reason, but, in some arrangements, the viewer can see how the works relate to each other - at least in their mind.  The Barnes was our favorite "discovery' of the trip.

    Almost next door to the Barnes is the Rodin Museum, a branch of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures in the world. Auguste Rodin is considered the father of modern sculpture and is my favorite sculptor. I've been lucky enough to visit the Rodin Museum in Paris, and the Philadelphia version is just as awesome. (https://www.rodinmuseum.org/ )