Best Paintings at Philadelphia Museum of Art

[Linda Brandon]

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of those marvelous places with a surprise around every corner. I was supremely happy wandering around there.

Jim and Michele, there is an entire room devoted to Raeburn's works (I think it's room 216 but I'm not sure). The paintings aren't very well lit and were in some cases hung too high to really get a good look at them. Nevertheless it was an enormous thrill to stand in that room for, oh, a good half hour or so. (I was the only one in the room.) By the way, I counted at least 6 Raeburns at the Met in New York (and at least one at the Frick). Why are there NO books on Raeburn in any of these Museum gift shops?

Tom, I saw both the paintings you posted and they were beautiful. The Tanner painting was so honest and haunting - a completely original version of an often-portrayed event. The only problem for me was that it's hung right across from that huge Eakins operating room painting. Hard to tell which way to turn.

Jimmie, I also admire Lord Leighton but I couldn't find your posted painting in the museum. The only Leighton original I've ever seen in the U.S. was in San Francisco, I think ("Flaming June").