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Directed by Don Argott, is a documentary which follows closely the live time and death of a great Philadelphian collector Albert. C. Barnes. Barnes was born in the year 1872 and died in 1951. While alive, Barnes was a hard working middle class Philadelphian who later found his way to riches. He rose from a rag to riches situation and was said to be cranky and opinionated. Barnes later used his fortune to collect great art pieces that are said to be of post impressionist and modernist value worth several billions of dollars.
Albert Barnes was seen to have collected so many unique and quality art works created and designed by both known and the unknown artist. Once, when Barnes tried to showcase his art collections, the members of his community did not like any of his collections. They made mockery and made fun of him and his collections. Barnes’ hate grew for the people in his community, especially the rich ones. He hated them because they mocked his collections and said hideous things to him.
Albert Barnes later builds a school where he assembles all of his collections and names it the “Barnes Foundation”. The school was built towards the outskirts of town, just to avoid the people he hated. He wanted to live apart from the preying rich guys in town. He placed his collections in the school instead of building a museum for it but he allows members of the public to come to the school and look at the art collections. Before Barnes died, he willed his collections to the school, in the care of a lady. In his will, he clearly stated that his collections should not be loaned, sold, transferred or put in a museum. Years later after the death of Barnes, the care taker also dies and so the collections were left in the care of a nonchalant lawyer who rather had selfish motives and did not respect the wishes of the dead. He loaned out some art pieces, he sold some and even transferred the collections in exchange for money to pew organization, which also plans to place the collections in a museum (in an isolate place outside of town where people can go and see them.) The school has finally decided to sue for custody of the collections as originally stated in Barnes will. The question now is; will justice be served or will Barnes instructions in his will be violated by the law court?
Release Date: February 26, 2010
Genre: Documentary
Starring: Not Available
Director: Don Argott
Writer: Not Available
Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributors: IFC Films
Official Website: Not Available
Photos: Not Available
Review: Not Available
Trailers: The Art of the Steal Trailer
