THE MAVERICK'S MUSEUM Albert Barnes and His American Dream

Jeremy Arthur's engaging narration befits the life story of Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951), an early collector of modern art and champion of minority art. Raised in a working-class environment, Barnes made his fortune in pharmaceuticals. He proceeded to use his wealth to study art, eventually building an extensive collection that became the Barnes Foundation. His friendship with educational reformer John Dewey developed into a lifelong mission to educate the public by making the collection accessible to everyone. It continues today. Arthur's expressive delivery never wavers as he keeps to a brisk pace, recounting Barnes's cantankerous personality and bullying tendencies, used to his advantage as he steamrolled over European art dealers and American academics. An enlightening audio experience. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2025]