87. THE ART OF THE STEAL

dr. albert barnes compiled a great collection of modern and post impressionistic art in the early 1900's.  he built a home for it and displayed it in warm collections, much different than a museum.  he established a school and great numbers of people learned.  then he died in 1951, but with a trust firmly established.  or was it?  the trust very clearly stated that the art should never be moved from it's location and was in place to teach art history and appreciation.  however, the collection gained in value, currently estimated at $25-30 billion.  this nailed the attention of many powers that be.  the film unfolds with significant intrigue.  what barnes collected was initially disdained by the "art community".  however, his collection of nearly 9000 pieces of art, including mattisse, serraut, cezanne, picasso, renoir are considered to be the best examples of each.  the film is presented from the side of the barnes supporters.  albert barnes never wanted his works to be viewed as a museum; he wanted no connection to the art museum of philadelphia; he was basically anti government and anti-establishment in his attitude.  the film presents it as a great shame and tragedy if his collection is to be moved from where he created it, and come to rest in the hands of philadelphia power.  and, thus the film unfolds.  since i didn't really know the outcome, i was riveted to the end to learn of the barnes foundation fate.  now i know.