Reason #26 To Love Philadelphia: The Gross Clinic

Yesterday, Mayor Street announced The Gross Clinic would be staying in Philadelphia, as donors managed to raise enough that the Art Museum and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts agreed to take on the remaining debt and purchase the painting.

The painting was sold by Jefferson Hospital to two museums: The Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark., which was founded by Alice “Wal*Mart” Walton, and the National Gallery of Art in D.C. But when the sale was announced last month, Philadelphia art institutions had 45 days to raise money for the funding. That’s since been extended to Jan. 31, and Wachovia will do the financing for whatever fundraising doesn’t cover for the rest of the $68 million.

So: Hooray to our city’s art leaders! They managed to save a really cool, true Philadelphia painting that nobody thought they could. Now can we put them in charge of the School District?

‘Gross Clinic’ to stay in city [Inquirer]