Barnes was an avid collector of post impressionist art. He was able to do so after creating an antiseptic drug called Argyrol. He used his money to collect 181 Reniors, 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos and many other amazing and valuable paintings. During the collecting he even befriended many of the artists, leading them to believe that Barnes's intention for the art was the only way it should be seen.
You may think Barnes was the kind of man that collected Art because that is what people of the time with disposable incomes would do. However, he used the collection to create an art school. The collection was to be used for educational purposes only, never to be sold, loaned or removed.
Barnes believed so strongly in that belief that he attempted to write an iron clad will. The will has been challenged numerous times since his death in 1951. The documentary shows you how politics can practically destroy a will and a man's beliefs.
I will not reveal the result of this long and stressful battle. I will tell you that I intend to see the Barnes collection the way it was meant to be seen before May of 2012. If you are interested check out http://www.barnesfoundation.org/index.php
