The Experience
The Memorial is actually an eclectic series of interconnected buildings which includes three Philadelphia row-houses and a school building. The “Sanctuary,” a fanciful Romanesque Revival Episcopal church was designed by the architectural firm of Frank Furness.
This dramatic setting, administered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, houses a collection of Russian icons and 14th-16th century paintings and sculptures. Decorative elements such as stained glass windows by John LaFarge, a mural by Robert Henri, ironwork by Samuel Yellin, and an altarpiece by Violet Oakley add to the richness of viewing art in this space.
Next door, the Memorial’s galleries display rotating exhibits of contemporary art, which are a competitively selected Challenge series of shows featuring contemporary regional artists. Faculty & student exhibitions complement the Challenge series.
History
The Memorial’s school, the nation’s oldest tuition-free art program, was founded in 1898 by Samuel S. Fleisher, a wealthy textile manufacturer who wanted to create a place for the world to “come and learn art.” These days, the school continues to offer free classes in drawing, ceramics, and printmaking. In 2002, the Memorial opened yet another building, dedicated to works on paper.