Richard H. Glanton
Richard H. Glanton was a controversial president of the Barnes Foundation known for his contentious leadership and efforts to address the institution's financial crisis in the 1990s.
Particulars
Richard H. Glanton served as president of the Barnes Foundation during a tumultuous period in the 1990s, marked by financial instability and internal conflict. Faced with the deteriorating condition of the institution's Merion, Pennsylvania facility and mounting financial pressures, Glanton made the controversial decision to break the terms of Albert C. Barnes's restrictive indenture of trust. In pursuit of funds for essential repairs and preservation, he orchestrated a world tour of 83 Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings from the collection between 1993 and 1995. This move, while generating revenue, sparked significant backlash and legal scrutiny. His tenure was further marred by a highly publicized lawsuit with fellow board member Niara Sudarkasa and a forensic audit that criticized his management. Despite his efforts to stabilize the foundation, Glanton's presidency remains a polarizing chapter in the Barnes Foundation's history, characterized by bold but divisive actions aimed at ensuring the institution's survival.
Compiled from source reports and Wikipedia. Automated record.