A Warts-and-All Biography of the Man Behind the Barnes Collection

The incredible array of artworks housed within Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation is nothing short of breathtaking. With a remarkable collection that includes West African masks, Diné jewelry, intricate decorative metalwork, and nearly five dozen masterpieces by Henri Matisse, alongside 49 by Pablo Picasso and the largest collection of works by Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir anywhere, the foundation is a treasure trove of artistic brilliance. However, those who merely marvel at the pieces would likely have ruffled the feathers of the institution’s founder, Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872—1951). For Barnes, a profound and thoughtful engagement with art was paramount to fully appreciating its worth.

Many art enthusiasts might not realize that Barnes established the foundation as a center for education, pioneering a practical approach to art appreciation. Art critic Blake Gopnik’s compelling biography, The Maverick’s Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream (2025), offers a crucial, unvarnished account of this innovative collector’s life and legacy.

In the years that followed Barnes’s passing, biographers found themselves at a disadvantage, often thwarted by the foundation staff who were overly protective of his legacy. Howard Greenfeld discusses in the preface of his 1987 biography, The Devil and Dr. Barnes: Portrait of an American Art Collector, how the institution restricted access to crucial archives and denied interview requests. Nevertheless, he managed to conduct his research with the help of his wife, Paola, who covertly trained in the art appreciation methods developed by Barnes himself in the suburban galleries that served as learning environments. These classes focused on the painstaking examination of individual artworks, teaching students to decipher an artist’s use of color, line, light, and space, while intentionally sidestepping art history in favor of direct aesthetic engagement.

The Maverick’s Museum navigates the pivotal moments in Barnes’s life, providing a refreshed perspective on his complex character. Armed with thoughtful archival research and a modern viewpoint, Gopnik reveals an intricate story that highlights the mutual influence between Barnes and philosopher John Dewey. He delves into Barnes’s commitment to “art as experience,” portraying him as a cultural reformer who believed in the democratization of art appreciation. In his view, anyone—regardless of their educational background—could learn to understand and appreciate art, with his methods serving as a means to transcend social hierarchies.

Barnes was an intelligent, spirited individual whose upbringing was shaped by a devout Methodist mother and a father, a Union veteran of the Civil War. His early exposure to interracial gatherings at Camp Meetings introduced him to Black spirituals, which he would later describe as “America’s only authentic music.” Growing up in a struggling neighborhood in South Philadelphia known as “The Neck,” Barnes developed both a fierce attitude and a sharp tongue.

During his time in Germany for graduate studies in chemistry, Barnes partnered with a colleague to develop Argyrol, a patented antiseptic that would secure him a substantial fortune. Gopnik suggests that Barnes’s marketing acumen played a crucial role in this success, enabling him to acquire significant art collections as a wealthy non-practicing doctor.

Yet, in his ascent, Barnes often downplayed the contributions of those who helped pave his way into the art world, such as his friend, the American painter William Glackens, and his mentor, the French dealer Paul Guillaume. While he possessed a discerning eye for art, Gopnik notes that he occasionally showed a “blind eye” towards avant-garde movements, missing out on significant contemporary works, including Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night, the latter of which remains a hallmark at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

One point of contention in Gopnik’s narrative concerns his approach to endnotes, which are only accessible online. For readers of non-fiction who might appreciate understanding how an author arrived at various insights, this style requires a departure from traditional forms and may pose challenges for those who prefer quick reference to footnotes or endnotes in printed material.

Perhaps Gopnik’s most insightful points explore the contradictions in Barnes’s relationships with Black art and culture. His prologue introduces a critical moment in 1924 when Barnes addressed a diverse audience at a banquet celebrated as the “coming out” event for the Harlem Renaissance. Notable figures such as philosopher Alain Locke, activist W. E. B. Du Bois, and poet Langston Hughes were present as Barnes discussed “the African ancestors of Harlem’s new talents.” Although Barnes was deeply troubled by societal injustices towards Black individuals, he nonetheless displayed an unaware tendency towards ‘racialized essentialism,’ as illustrated in his writings that suggested every Black person inherently possessed artistic talent while being indifferent towards the practical affairs of life.

In contemporary discussions, Barnes’s disinterest in the context behind artworks might seem contrary to his appreciation for African art. However, Gopnik effectively links this aspect of Barnes’s teaching philosophy—whereby art’s purpose was secondary—to the broader narrative of his educational approach. The Maverick’s Museum is filled with thought-provoking insights enriched by Gopnik’s prowess as a meticulous researcher. Reading this dynamic biography is likely to inspire a desire to experience the Barnes Foundation firsthand.

The Maverick’s Museum: Albert Barnes and His American Dream (2025) by Blake Gopnik is published by Ecco and is available at online and independent bookstores.