This
exhibition celebrates the outstanding works of art that have been
acquired over the past five years in honor of the 125th Anniversary
of this Museum. Like the Museum’s collections as a whole,
these new acquisitions span centuries, continents, and a broad range
of artistic intentions, styles and mediums. Taken together, they
offer a rich sampling of the infinite variations on themes that
have inspired artists since the beginning of time, such as the wonders
of nature or the human figure in all its myriad forms. A selection
from over four thousand works of art acquired by gift and purchase
is presented in the exhibition.
The
vast majority of works of art on view throughout the Museum’s
galleries have entered the collection as gifts over the past 125
years. This exhibition bears witness to the spectacular continuation
of this tradition of generosity. For these new acquisitions, the
Museum is forever indebted to a remarkable group of public-spirited
benefactors who have relinquished their treasures so that they could
be preserved for and enjoyed by visitors now and far into the future.
Some donors gave individual masterpieces, sometimes family heirlooms
that have been passed down for generations; others gave entire collections
of objects lovingly assembled during the course of their lifetimes;
still others contributed much-needed funds so that the Museum could
purchase extraordinary works of art that would otherwise be far
beyond its reach. Gifts of endowed purchase funds help to ensure
that there will be funds for future purchases. To each and every
generous donor go the heartfelt thanks of the Museum on behalf of
its public for generations to come. |
Copyright © 2002, Philadelphia Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
