The Philadelphia Museum of Art was founded in 1876, initially as a museum of industrial art. Its mission was to provide the public with access to works of art from all over the world, and to promote the appreciation of fine and decorative arts within Philadelphia. The museum has since become one of the largest and most comprehensive art collections in the United States.
The first curator of the museum, John G. Johnson, was a lawyer who had an interest in collecting art. He began his collection with prints and drawings from Europe, but quickly expanded it to include all types of art including paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts. He also sought out objects from other cultures including those from Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
The museum also developed an education program for visitors in its early years. This included lectures on various topics related to art history as well as guided tours that helped visitors gain a better understanding of what they were seeing. In addition to these educational programs, the museum opened its doors for special exhibitions that showcased artwork from all over the world.
As time went on, the museum’s mission evolved from its original focus on industrial art to include works from all periods and styles. Today it has one of the most diverse collections in America with artwork ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern sculptures by contemporary artists like Jeff Koons and Nam June Paik. It also contains an extensive library that houses rare books and manuscripts related to art history.
Conclusion: The Philadelphia Museum of Art was founded in 1876 with a mission to provide public access to works of art from around the world while promoting appreciation for fine arts within Philadelphia. Since then it has grown into one of America’s largest and most diverse collections featuring artwork spanning centuries and cultures. The museum continues its commitment to education by offering lectures on various topics related to art history as well as guided tours that help visitors gain a better understanding of their experience.