CANBERRA.- Masterpieces from Paris: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne and beyond, an extraordinary exhibition presented by the National Gallery of Australia in association with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, was officially announced today by the Arts Minister, The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP.

From December 2009 through to April 2010, the Australian public won’t have to travel to Paris to see masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat, Pierre Bonnard, Claude Monet, Maurice Denis and Edouard Vuillard—they can visit them in Canberra.

“Australians will be able to experience the best of French culture in the nation’s capital over summer and autumn 2009 and 2010. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for art lovers and first-timers, students and families to see these renowned works that many have grown up with in art history books. Canberra will be the world premiere for this exhibition, which will then travel to Tokyo and San Francisco,” said Arts Minister, Peter Garrett.

Among the 114 paintings included in the exhibition are some of the best-known works of modern art. These works draw millions of tourists in Paris to the Musée d’Orsay, one of the great museums of 19th-century art.

“This is the most important exhibition to come to the National Gallery of Australia. Never before have so many famous masterpieces been brought together for one exhibition in this country. We are delighted to be co-curating this exhibition with the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the museum with the most significant holdings of Post-Impressionist art in the world.

These works almost never leave the Musée d’Orsay even singly and never before in these numbers,” said Ron Radford AM, Director National Gallery of Australia.
The National Gallery of Australia also announced the exhibition partners, including presenting partner the ACT Government, who are financially supporting an exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia for the first time.

“When the ACT Government was presented with this opportunity by the National Gallery of Australia, we knew we had to seize the chance to support this outstanding exhibition. Masterpieces from Paris will generate a tremendous economic and cultural impact for the ACT and for Australia,” said Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister Australian Capital Territory.

In addition, the National Gallery announced that long term partner National Australia Bank has entered in to an eight year strategic partnership with the Gallery as Education and Access partner. The partnership will ensure that as many Australian children and members of the community as possible are able to experience and learn about great works of art, such as those in this exhibition.

Masterpieces from Paris shows the explosive arrival of modern art in Europe. The most famous and influential painters are represented by many works. The exhibition showcases seven van Goghs, nine Gauguins, eight Cézannes and eleven Seurats. In addition, there are many paintings by Bernard (five), Bonnard (nine), Denis (ten), Monet (five) and Vuillard (eight), among others.

“We are renovating our Post-Impressionist Galleries at the Musée d’Orsay which means we are able to lend these works together for the first time. Australia will be the first country to see these works outside France,” said Guy Cogeval, President Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Visitors will encounter van Gogh’s Bedroom at Arles 1889, Gauguin’s painting Tahitian women 1891, Cézanne’s beloved Mount Saint-Victoire c 1890, and many other great examples by Post-Impressionist painters.

Masterpieces from Paris is one of the most exceptional art events ever to be held in Australia, the exhibition will be on show in Canberra only at the National Gallery of Australia from 4 December 2009 to 5 April 2010.