Dorrance Galleries
Main Building
By 1930, Henri Matisse had achieved significant international renown, yet he found himself in a deep creative slump. The turning point came in the fall of that year with a commission to decorate the main gallery of the Barnes Foundation, then located in a suburb of Philadelphia. The resulting monumental mural, The Dance (1930–33), turned Matisse’s artistic practice around.
Matisse in the 1930s explores changes in the artist’s work across multiple formats, including easel and decorative painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, and the illustrated book. The exhibition also addresses the methods of working that renewed Matisse’s style, as well as his modern renderings of mythological themes from antiquity, his depictions of female models in the studio, and his partnership with his studio manager and model, Lydia Delectorskaya.
Tickets & Promotions
Matisse in the 1930s is a separately ticketed exhibition. Tickets are for timed entry every thirty minutes from 11:00 a.m. until an hour and a half before close each day.
Standard Tickets: $30
Standard tickets include timed entry to the exhibition and general admission to the museum.
Members: Free
Members receive unlimited access with their membership card, no tickets required. Member guest tickets must be booked in advance.
Gift Tickets: $30
Gift tickets include timed entry to the exhibition and general admission to the museum.
Premium All-Inclusive Package: $180 ($168 members)
This premium package includes:
- Two exhibition tickets (general admission included)
- Exhibition catalogue (pick up in the exhibition store)
- Lunch for two at Stir, excluding alcohol, gratuity, and tip (reservations to be made before your visit)
Experience It Again: 50% off return visit (online purchase only)
Get 50% off a return visit ticket with the purchase of a regularly priced ticket (limit two discounted tickets). A promo code will be provided via email after your first visit.
