As many of you undoubtedly are aware, the great masterpiece oil painting by Thomas Eakins, "The Gross Clinic" has been sold to a Walmart heiress and is bound for an as yet unbuilt museum in Arkansas. The seller and present owner of the painting, Jefferson Medical University, is giving Philadelphia cultural institutions until December 26th to match the 68 million dollar selling price to keep the painting in Philadelphia at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. According to an update in the Philadelphia Inquirer, one-third of this amount has been raised.

The actual painting is still on view at Jefferson, daily between noon and 4:00 p.m. at the entrance on the block of Locust street between 10th and 11th streets. I urge everyone to see this painting, it is free of charge and a powerful experiance as the canvas is over 8x6 feet and is one of the incontestable masterpieces of 19th century American art.

In an effort to raise consciousness of and money for the fund to buy this painting, several Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (where Eakins taught) alumni as well as other local artists have formed a loose coalition and have been rallying every Sunday. This Sunday's (December 3rd) rally is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. to noon at the foot of the Art Museum steps (near the "Rocky" statue). We will be selling buttons that read KEEP "GROSS" IN PHILADELPHIA for $2.00 each, and 100% of this money will be remitted to the fund. I hope you will join us, buy a few buttons, and spread the word. We must rise to the challenge to keep this great icon of Philadelphia culture in the city where it belongs.

For further information, or to make a donation,
visit www.philamuseum.org.