Phillips Collection: Old Masters

I say, I say, that's a joke, son. The prestigious Phillips Collection is and has always been devoted to "modern" art. There are no Old Masters there, of course. But time marches on, and the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists that were and probably still are the core of the collection are beginning to feel a bit old. I was there to see what is probably the Phillips' most famous work, Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party, but found much else to enjoy, especially the temporary exhibitions on Alma Thomas and David Driskell, about which I'll do a separate post.

Gotta' like a museum trying to grow a monkey puzzle tree...

Renoir's 1881 Luncheon of the Boating Party, one of the greatest
of Impressionist works; a year ago I had read Susan Vreeland's
excellent historical novel of the same title and had ample background
information...

Interesting provenance: sold by the artist to his dealer/patron;
bought from the dealer's son by the Phillips in 1923, for $125,000;
now priceless and perhaps the greatest Renoir not in Europe; perhaps
the greatest Renoir

Braque's The Round Table, 1929

Another reason to like the Phillips Collection

And another, Courbet's The Mediterranean, 1857

Cezanne's Mont Sainte-Victoire (#1,139)

Matisse, Interior with Egyptian Curtain, 1948

Van Gogh, The Road Menders, 1889

Braque, Bird, 1956

Kandinsky, Sketch 1 for Painting with White Border

Van Gogh, Entrance to the Public Gardens at Arles, 1888

Cezanne, The Garden at Les Lauves, 1906

 

Degas, Dancers at the Barre, 1880s

And even a Roualt, Afterglow, Galilee, 1931