One of the best museums we've visited. We love Impressionist art and we've been to Musee D'Orsay. Loved even the smaller paintings. So many Matisse paintings I didn't know exist.

We paid for a docent tour; details are available on the website. The tour was well worth the expense. Our docent was excellent, immersing us in the time that Albert Barnes was acquiring his collection. Our tour lasted about 90 minutes and then we had lunch in the museum's Garden Restaurant. The whole experience was a tranquil respite on a hot summer day in a big city. I recommend going as early in the day as you can.

This collection represents one of the finest collections of impressionist art in the world with over 180 Renoir paintings, significant Cezanne works, Van Gogh, Monet, Seurat, Degas Miro, Picasso, Matisse and so many others you will recognize on the fantastically curated walls. This collection does not have signs as in traditional museums but rather recreates the original design that Mr. Barnes created for the works.

In the early part of June, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit some of Philadelphia's wonderful museums.If you are anything like us, take a peek at The Rodin, The Caldor, The Franklin, The Barnes Foundation and The Art Museum with its famous statue of Rocky.Just to give you a little taste of one of these amazing museums, let me share with you a little something about The Barnes Foundation. Our original plan was to stay in this museum for about 2 hours; 3 1/2 hours later, we were walking out the exit. This museum's outstanding art work held us in its grasp, so much so, that we found it hard to leave when we expected to.I have a little tidbit that I learned about Albert Barnes that I'd like to share with you.When I dropped off my backpack, the attendant told me that Barnes was a chemist who gained his fortune from his pharmaceutical business; he wasn't born rich. She also told me that Barnes had an American artist friend, William Glackens, who wastraveling to Paris in 1912.Barnes decided to give him $20,000 to buy him some innovative and experimental paintings of Paris' up-and-coming artists.When Barnes' friend returned home, he had brought home with him,33 paintings from some of the Master Impressionists: Works of Cezanne, Van Gogh. Renoir and Picasso. Imagine how much even one of those paintings would cost today. The 33 paintings that Glackens brought home from Paris became the core of Barnes Collection.When you visit The Barnes, you will find that his collection went from 33 paintings to over 900 paintings today. You will see numerous paintings of Cezanne-Van Gogh-Renoir-Matisse-Picasso and a smattering of Modigliani's and other famous Masters.When you look at these paintings, you will scan them to learn more about each one.However, when you leave, you will not have any photos to remember them by. I would strongly recommend that you take a photo of each painting you are looking at besides the scans. This museum will say that you will receive all the paintings you scanned and looked at but you will not. My wife found that out, the hard way, when we retuned home and she had no photos to remember her Barnes Experience by.You won't be disappointed visiting The Barnes and I'm positive, you'll want to return again just as my wife and I plan to do in the near future.Enjoy the experience.Noel M.

Amazing collection. The free orientation talk was well done and very informative, expanding our enjoyment of the exhibits.The on-site restaurant was reasonably priced and of very good quality.