French impressionism to feature at NGV

By Micaela Togher

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has announced its 2021 Winter Masterpieces season featuring the French Impressionism exhibition from The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Opening on June 4, the exhibition will feature an internationally exclusive presentation of more than 100 impressionist works – including 79 that have never been exhibited before in Australia.

Artworks by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissaro are among those featured in the exhibition.

Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson hopes the collection will delight audiences and offer a much-needed boost to local tourism in Melbourne’s centre.

“This is an opportunity for Victorians to enjoy an incredible collection of international artworks right here at home,” Mr Pearson said.

French Impressionism is this year’s offering for the annual Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, which has been running since 2004.

The series is designed to bring major international art exhibitions exclusively to Melbourne each year.

She-Oak and Sunlight: Australian Impressionism will be hosted by NGV Australia at Federation Square and features more than 250 works from collections around Australia.

Impressionism was born in 1870’s and ‘80s France and revolutionised the art world – featuring distinctive brush strokes, an emphasis on the depiction of light and movement and wielding the power of vibrant colours.

NGV Director Tony Ellwood said audiences would have the opportunity to study the masterworks up close for the first time on Australian shores.

“Paintings by the Impressionists are beloved world-wide for the artistic innovation and visual curiosity they represent, as well as their breathtaking use of colour,” Mr Elwood said.

French Impressionism will run from June 4 to October 2 at NGV International in Southbank.

She-Oak and Sunlight: Australian Impressionism will run from April 2 to August 22 at NGV Australia, Federation Square •