Mark Bibby Jackson beats the rush to spend 24 hours in Philadelphia exploring the history and culture of the city prior to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence celebrations
Philadelphia Museum of Art
At the top of the grandiose staircase to the Philadelphia Museum of Art stands a wonderful golden statue of Diana, the hunter goddess not erstwhile princess. Inside the rooms is a wide collection of European Art (1500-1850) as well as American Art Period Rooms. What is most striking about them is the artworks are placed in situ, giving context to the pieces rather than making you feel you are in an artificial art gallery.
I particularly like the New York City Townhouse from the 1920s. The exhibition is more than a collection of artworks, but rather a deconstruction of a home, so there are sections on porcelain tiles and even on the difference between Italian and English picture frames. I find it much more interesting than a traditional chronological exhibition. The Great Drawing Room from Lansdowne House London 1761-75 is particularly striking with its amazing use of green and pink.
That is not to say the works of art are of no worth in their own right. Paintings by Rubens, Stubbs, Constable, Turner, Blake compete for my attention. The exhibition naturally flows with no clear barrier so frankly I become totally lost and take a side staircase to the second floor where Modern & Contemporary Art is on display.
Perhaps ironically, this collection adopts a more formal style. However, the pieces are if anything of a higher standard than on the upper floor. Kandinsky, Mondrian, Picasso, Warhol (Marilyn and Jackie Kennedy), Magritte, Man Ray all feature. My attention is most drawn to a work by Dali where you can see the pain on the disjointed face as man is destroying himself. Perhaps this is a message for our time.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art continues with exhibitions on European Art 1850-1900, particularly on Impressionists (Van Gogh, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cezanne, Gaugin, Renoir), as well as wonderful statues by Rodin and Degas. There are also several exhibitions, including at the time of my visit one on the work of young American artist Noah Davis.
A Rocky Road to Independence
Despite the really high quality of the artwork inside, probably the most famous part of it lies outside; the Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps leading to the Rocky statue.
Lovers of the film series will perhaps be disappointed to discover there are only 66 steps (yes, I did count them) the Italian Stallion ran up on his quest to immortality.
It was a far longer road to independence, and this year marks the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
The previous day I visited many of the monuments there including Declaration House and Independence House. The queue to the Liberty Bell deterred me, but I did find an impressive replica which Queen Elizabeth II unveiled. If you do plan to visit the city, make sure you schedule your events in advance. It is bound to get packed.
The historic quarter of Philadelphia is a great place to wander and soak in the history of the country. However, I found my ideal spot people watching in Washington Square watching tour groups come and go while enjoying the spring sun.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
This really is a wonderful museum where you can spend all day looking at the works of art. To see what is showing during your visit to Philadelphia, click here.
Things to Do in Philadelphia
If you wish for more inspiration on what to to do in 24 hours in Philadelphia, visit the official tourism site here. It also has plenty of information on the 250th anniversary celebrations.
