Barnes’ problem

“Getty Trust: Buy the Barnes,” by Christopher Knight (Oct. 12) states the problem surrounding the Barnes Foundation so well. I visited the Barnes Foundation last June and was amazed and astounded by the wealth and breadth of the art there. It seems to me that the Barnes has become the center of a power play between those groups who want to get their hands on this incredible collection of art and the “old guard of Philadelphia” who want to kick out an irritating thorn in their side that threatens to impact the value of their property in a beautiful residential suburb of Philadelphia.

No one is thinking about the intent of an incredibly visionary man, Dr. Barnes, who simply wanted to share his love of art and collecting with everyone in Philadelphia. However, because he refused to do it by the “rules” of the traditionalists, he became an irritant to them all

Barbara R. Cloud

Santa Clarita

For the Getty’s response to Knight, see Page 47.