The Music and the Art of Philadelphia
The Eastern U.S. city of Philadelphia is similar to many Eastern cities of the country, in that there is an appreciation not only of the arts and music, but of the history of those arts and that music that is shared willing and enthusiastically with all those who come to visit the city for the first time. The hotels in Philadelphia are artistic and historical, as are the gardens, the pubs, the various art galleries and music venues.
The visual arts and the performing arts are celebrated and supported in the city, and so it is no wonder that the oldest museum of art in the country is located in the heart of the downtown Center District. This is the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Their vast and varied collection spans more than a decade and holds the original treasures of such masters as the Wyeths, Thomas Eakins, Charles Wilson Peale, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, and Edward Hopper. And that does not begin to scratch the surface of the works in which they house in their collection. The building itself is a 1876 work of art, the creation of architects George Hewitt and Frank Furness.
No other building could be such a backdrop for the work that is found within its walls and hallways. There are bronze ornamental fixtures, gold leaf trimmings and intricate and delicate carvings within the wood work. The school and the museum was founded in 1805 and is and always has been, the epitome of style and the illustration of the finest American artists of all time. Modern painters are represented as well such as Diebenkorn, Lichtenstein and O’Keefe. This is not only a museum for the adults but one which offers classes on the weekends to the children of the city and to those who happen to be traveling through with their parents. This is truly one of the gems of the country, and for those looking for a bit of history mixed with art, this is the place to attend on any trip to Philadelphia.
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