10 must-see works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Quick answer
The Philadelphia Museum of Art's must-see works are Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Cézanne's Large Bathers, Duchamp's The Large Glass and Étant donnés, Brancusi's Bird in Space, Eakins's The Gross Clinic and the period rooms. The Rocky Steps are the outdoor highlight.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
Point your camera at any artwork
Try it free at Philadelphia Museum of Art
AnyArt recognizes paintings, sculptures and monuments and tells you their story in seconds, like a personal audio guide. Free for iPhone, iPad and Android.
The 10 key works
Works change rooms for loans and restorations. Use the museum's floor plan to find them.
- 1
European art
Sunflowers — Vincent van Gogh (1889)
A version of the Arles series, painted to decorate Gauguin's room.
- 2
European art
The Large Bathers — Paul Cézanne (1906)
His last great painting, which opened the road to Cubism.
- 3
20th-century art
Nude Descending a Staircase — Marcel Duchamp (1912)
A landmark of modern art, shown in the Duchamp galleries.
- 4
20th-century art
The Large Glass — Marcel Duchamp (1915-1923)
A work on glass full of symbols of desire. Duchamp left it 'definitively unfinished'.
- 5
20th-century art
Étant donnés — Marcel Duchamp (1946-1966)
An installation you see only through a peephole in a wooden door.
- 6
Modern sculpture
Bird in Space — Constantin Brancusi
One of the most recognisable sculptures of the 20th century.
- 7
American art
The Gross Clinic — Thomas Eakins (1875)
A surgical operation scene and a key work of American realism.
- 8
European art
Works by Picasso, Renoir and Monet
A tour through Impressionism and modern European art.
- 9
Asian art
Temple and tea house rooms
Complete interiors of temples and houses, often the museum's surprise.
- 10
Outside
Rocky Steps and statue
Philadelphia's most photographed popular monument.
How to see them
Start with European and Impressionist art, continue to the 20th century and leave American art and period rooms for the end. With the AnyArt app you can check each work's name and story by pointing your camera.
Frequently asked questions
What famous paintings are here?
Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Cézanne's Large Bathers and works by Duchamp, Brancusi and Eakins, among others.
Is Duchamp's Large Glass here?
Yes, in the galleries dedicated to the artist.
Can you see Étant donnés?
Yes, through a peephole; it is one of the museum's oddest experiences.
Where is the Rodin Museum?
A few minutes away on the same Parkway, with its own tickets. The Gates of Hell are its best-known work.