Woodmere Art Museum

Woodmere Art Museum, nestled in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, holds a distinctive mission: to celebrate the art and artists of the Delaware Valley. Founded in 1910 by Charles Knox Smith, a local businessman and philanthropist, the museum transformed his Victorian estate into a cultural institution. Today, it houses an impressive range of paintings, prints, sculpture, and photographs, with a focus on artists who have shaped the artistic heritage of the greater Philadelphia region.

While its collection is often associated with paintings by masters such as Violet Oakley, N. C. Wyeth, and Edward Willis Redfield, photography has become an increasingly significant component of Woodmere’s holdings. The museum recognizes that photography has long been intertwined with the history of Philadelphia, both as an artistic medium and as a means of chronicling social and cultural change. Works by photographers connected to the region, including Severo Antonelli, highlight the experimental and documentary approaches that shaped 20th-century visual culture. Antonelli, for example, was not only a noted photographer but also a teacher and advocate for the medium, helping to establish its importance within Philadelphia’s art scene.

Woodmere’s photographic collection bridges traditional fine art practices with contemporary perspectives, capturing the evolving story of the Delaware Valley through the lens. The images range from intimate portraits and urban street scenes to landscapes that echo the same appreciation for light and place found in the paintings of the Pennsylvania Impressionists.

Through exhibitions and educational programming, Woodmere continues to expand the role of photography in its mission, presenting it as both a creative and historical resource. In doing so, the museum ensures that the region’s photographic legacy is preserved and celebrated alongside its paintings and sculptures, offering visitors a fuller picture of Philadelphia’s rich artistic traditions.