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Benjamin Bernstein, art aficionado and benefactor
By Irene Burgo
 When
Villanova conferred an honorary doctorate upon Benjamin Bernstein in 1998,
the art aficionado and collector could not have been more pleased. This
recognition held special meaning for the philanthropist because it not
only acknowledged his considerable donations to the University, but it
also honored him for his lifelong love of art
At the time of his death on May 1, 2003, the Philadelphia native had amassed
one of the largest and most significant private art collections in the
area. His enormous collections of miscellaneous paintings and sculptures
filled the walls of his town house in Old City Philadelphia, and spilled
over into his farmhouse in Bucks County as well as his business offices
at Quaker Moving Company and later United Van Lines.
His appreciation for art had a serendipitous origin. From exceedingly
humble beginnings, the oldest of nine children, Bernstein, grew up working
for his father who had a small moving business in Philadelphia. The older
Bernstein moved families’ possessions via horse and wagon. Ben eventually
took over his father’s business, and acquired his first three paintings
as payment from a woman who did not have enough money to pay for his moving
services. After that, it seems Bernstein was hooked. Throughout his career
first as owner of Quaker Moving Co., and later as president of United
Van Lines, he nurtured his love of art. Growing up in a poor family, Ben
worked in numerous blue collar jobs including selling and hauling ice,
as a waiter on a cruise ship, and as a cab driver in Chicago.
As a benefactor and donor, Bernstein first became associated with Villanova
in 1979 when a friend introduced him to the Rev. Richard Cannuli, O.S.A.,
director and curator of the Villanova University Art Gallery in Connelly
Center. A friendship developed between the two and in the years following,
Bernstein generously donated several hundred pieces of different types
of art work to the University’s collection. His first donation was
the security system for the art gallery.
His own collection was vast as well as valuable, according to Father Cannuli.
“Ben owned pieces that could rival those in the Metropolitan Museum
in New York City,” said Father Cannuli. “You could say his
collection equaled if not surpassed that of the Annenberg or Rockefeller
collections.”
He had had business offices all around the world and so he collected art
from every corner of the globe. His personal collection included first
generation Shona sculptures from Africa, pre-Colombian pottery, Persian
vases, tribal art such as masks and shields from New Guinea, Ibiggi wood-carvings,
a set of Thai Lions, elephant bells from India, as well as countless paintings
by prominent local artists such as Julius Bloch and world-renowned artists
such as Dame Elizabeth Frink, a sculptress from Great Britain. His donations
to Villanova included many pieces from these collections. The Shona sculptures
in the Villanova collection are especially valuable, because they are
first generation carvings, according to Father Cannuli. Bernstein also
donated a set of Thai lions to the University. The Thai lions are an important
asset to the collection because they are unique. Rendered in bronze, the
lions stand about 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide are inlaid as mosaic with
semi-precious stones. Bernstein also donated some of the personal effects
from artists he knew whom had died and had left him their materials. These
included drawings, sketchbooks, palettes, brushes, tools, lithographs,
etc., as well as finished works.
“He loved many different types of art but “liked his work
very fluid and very loose,” said Father Cannuli. “Ben was
more interested in the conceptual imagery of a piece than the realistic,
photographic tight pieces. He was especially drawn to the work of artists
of the “Cobra School.” Cobra is the name given to a small
period of painting in the Dutch period that he specifically favored.
Over the years, Bernstein also befriended struggling artists and served
as a patron to many talented local artists, including the late Julius
Bloch. “Ben literally supported many artists,” said Father
Cannuli. “He paid their rent, food bills, supplies, and virtually
day-to-day living expenses, and in turn, they often gave him art work.
Sometimes he would commission their pieces. The ultimate value of a piece
made no difference to him. He would not buy something just because it
was worth it. Whether or not he liked it, were his criteria for choosing
it. For example, if he liked it, he would buy a little sketch from a student
from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Very often, he would give
or sell pieces of art work to his brothers.”
Other members of the Bernstein family also are serious art collectors.
Several of them also have donated substantial works of art to Villanova
as well. Bernstein’s daughter, Robin, and his brothers Edward and
Stanley, have contributed significantly to the University’s art
collection. “Ben and his family began donating to Villanova in the
hope that the University would one day open a museum to showcase its art
collection,” said Father Cannuli. A major portion of the estimated
5,000 pieces of art in the Villanova collection have been donated by Bernstein.
Many of the pieces have never been displayed because the University has
no room to exhibit them. Father Cannuli, who shares the Bernstein’s
dream of a creating a Villanova University art museum, is optimistic that
it may yet become a reality one day.
Although Bernstein did not have a formal education, he did take a number
of courses on art and literature. “He had a thirst for knowledge,”
observes Father Cannuli. “He read voraciously about art, and he
took numerous courses on Shakespeare at Oxford University in England.
He loved the works of Shakespeare.”
Some of Bernstein’s major contributions of art are readily on display
currently at Villanova. On exhibit in the Connelly Center, is the sculpture
of The Hot Dog Cart by the late artist Fumio Yoshimura, a friend of Bernstein’s.
This complex, intricate piece fascinates observers. It is hand carved
totally in linden wood by the artist with accompanying fire plug and tin
soda can. Also on display in the Connelly Center Cafeteria is the sculpture
by Yoshiumra called “3 Bicycles,” carved totally in linden
wood, which hangs suspended from the ceiling. (Prior to coming to Villanova,
these elaborately carved sculptures were moved to several exhibit locations
by Bernstein’s company, Quaker Moving and Storage Company.)
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