The Art of the Steal (2009 film)

The Art of the Steal is a 2009 documentary film about the controversial move of the Barnes Foundation, generally considered to be the worlds best collection of postImpressionist art and valued in 2009 to be worth at least 25billion, from Merion, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia. The move was disputed because Doctor Albert C. Barnes, who died in 1951, had specifically selected Lower Merion Township for its location. The collection was moved in 2012 to downtown Philadelphia. The film presents an account of the claimed breaking of Barnes will, which it presents as a decadeslong process that was initiated by Philadelphians who were enemies of Barnes while he was alive, and that was continued by their heirs.

The collection was located in a residential neighborhood about five miles from Philadelphia. Because of the constant efforts by the Philadelphia aristocracy to seize the collection, the State of Pennsylvania refrained from contributing funds to make its endowment sufficient, but secretly arranged to provide 100 million of taxpayer funds only once the control of the Foundation was taken over by the new board.citation needed The new president and officers of the board succeeded in challenging the will to enable it to send some pieces on tour to earn enough money for needed renovations to the facility to preserve the artwork and provide security. But little went to the upkeep of the facility, because the funds were drained away by the legal contest of the will.citation needed The 9,000piece collection of mostly late19th and early20thcentury art includes 181 Renoirs, 69 Czannes, 60 Matisses, 44 Picassos, andModiglianis. What makes the collection extraordinary is not just the artists, but that Dr. Barnes acquired so many of the very best works of each of those masters. The extraordinarily high overall quality of the works is the chief special attribute of the collection. ........

Source: Wikipedia