www.phillipscollection.org

The Phillips Collection is a private collection of steel-fortune heir Duncan Phillips (1886–1966) and his wife, Marjorie Phillips. The collection spans the twentieth century, rivaling any modern art museum in the world. In fact, it is considered to be the first modern art museum in the country. Today, the collection is still housed where it was originally shown to the public — in the Phillipses' Georgian mansion. In 2006, the Phillips Collection's most recent addition opened to the public following a three-year, $27-million building project. The Sant Building was built mostly underground to preserve the mansion's intimate scale and residential quality.

Collection Highlights

Highlights of this incredible personal collection include Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party and the Rothko room, which features four works in a small room. Marjorie was an artist herself, and her American impressionist work is also on display here. Sometimes when a museum benefactor is also an artist, the work is included to appease the family, but Marjorie Phillips's Night Baseball is an American classic. Using post-Impressionistic techniques for its very middle-American subject, it deserves the treatment it receives as one of the icons of this museum.

The collection has grown immensely from the time it was started by the Phillips family. Today, it includes 2,500 works and is known throughout the world for its breadth of European impressionist and postimpressionist works, which the Phillipses felt started with El Greco, because he was “the first impassioned expressionist,” and Chardin because he was “the first modern painter.” There are also works by Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, Gauguin, and Cezanne, as well as Pisarro, Bonnard, Vuillard, and Braques (thirteen of these). American painters in the collection include O'Keeffe, Marin, Dove, Hartley, many of the Ashcan School artists, and four striking works by Jacob Lawrence from his Migration of the Negro series.

Gift Shop and Café

The museum gift shop is small, eclectic, and clever, featuring many reproductions from the collection as well as unusual modern art items such as a Man Ray teapot. There's a good selection of children's items as well. The newly renovated cafe, operated by the locally famous Firehook Bakery (recently named one of the five best bakers in the world) is located on the lower level.

Location and Hours

The Phillips is located on 21st Street NW at Q Street. If you take the Metro Red Line to Dupont Circle (and the Q Street exit), it's a short walk to the museum.

Permanent collection admission is free on weekdays; on weekends and for special exhibits, the admission price varies, but is usually $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. This includes admission to the permanent collection. Children under eighteen can enter free.

The museum is closed Monday. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. (on Thursday, open until 8:30 P.M.), and on Sunday from noon to 7 P.M. but only until 5 P.M. June through September. The Phillips is closed for some national holidays, such as Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and New Year's Day, so call ahead. For advance tickets only, outside D.C. call 800-551-SEAT.

Parents must stay with their children at all times. Strollers and front-facing baby carriers are allowed, but backpacks and back babycarriers are not. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, and a limited number of wheelchairs are available at the coat check.