Masterpieces from the Musee d'Orsay
The Art Gallery of South Australia is hosting a wonderful exhibition of impressionist paintings. This exhibition closes on July 29th and I've gone to see it (twice!) in the past few weeks.
The paintings are from the Musee d'Orsay's collection of impressionist paintings, the museum holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world. So there were a few to choose from! The theme of this exhibition was 'Colours of Impressionism' and the paintings on display were grouped to reflect that theme.
The first time I went to the exhibition I just looked and enjoyed the artwork, but was surprised that people were allowed to photograph the paintings. Generally in art galleries and places that have major artworks, photography isn't allowed. So the next time I went I quite happily looked and then photographed my favourites!
I've been to quite a few touring exhibitions in the Art Gallery of South Australia and generally they have been in the new wing, this one was different as it was held in the 19th century heritage wing that normally houses Australian colonial art. The galleries themselves have been repainted to house this exhibition. The statue of Eros, made from the same moulds as the one in Piccadilly Circus in London.
The exhibition begins with the colour (shade?) black.
Edouard Manet, Moonlight over the port at Boulogne.
Auguste Renoir, Madame Darras
Madame Darras looked very familiar, it turns out this was a study, (a close up picture) for his major piece, Riding in the Bois de Boulogne. She's the lady on the horse!
The colour theme then moves to white and snow pictures.
Claude Monet, The Magpie
Gustave Caillebotte, Rooftops in the Snow
The artist Caillebotte has an interesting story, his name appears as a donor to quite a few of the artworks. It seems as well as being an artist he was a collector as he came from quite a well off family and was able to purchase the works of his friends who included Monet, Renoir and Pissarro. He bequeathed his collection to the French State after his death in 1894, as impressionism wasn't considered highbrow enough, Caillebotte had been concerned that his collection would be broken up and distributed to provincial museums. He stipulated that the paintings had to be displayed at the Luxembourg Palace (for living artists) and then the Louvre.
The French government wouldn't agree to these terms but 2 years after his death agreed to take 38 paintings and display them at the Luxembourg Palace. The remaining paintings were offered again in 1904 and in 1908 and both times were rejected by the government. By the 1920s impressionism had become valued and the government tried to claim them in 1928, Caillebotte's brother's widow had the will repudiated and sold the remaining paintings. (The government had their chance!) That's why a number of the paintings on display are listed as the Gustave Caillebotte Bequest.
Alfred Sisley, Snow at Louveciennes
This exhibition certainly increased my art history knowledge and I was curious about the very English name of this artist. Each time I looked at his paintings before reading the sign I thought it was a Monet painting. Turns out he was born in Paris to British parents and he lived most of his life in France and died there. According to art historians his work resembled Monet's in style and subject matter (so my first impression was correct then) Sisley's are more subdued and were overshadowed by Monet's. Basically he made very little money from his art!
We now move into colour, greens and blues.
Alfred Sisley, A Street at Louveciennes
Camille Pissarro, The Wheelbarrow, orchard
Lucien Pissarro, The Church at Gisors
Lucien Pissarro was the son of Camille and an artist in his own right.
Auguste Renoir, Railway Bridge at Chatou.
Camille Pissarro, Prairie a Eragny
The May Triptych
Alfred Sisley, Saint-Denis Island/Camille Pissarro, Entrance to Village of Voisins/Claude Monet,Pleasure Boats
These pictures were displayed at the 1889 World's Fair and each artist painted a favoured scene not far from where they lived. The Triptych was bought by a banker called Ernest May, hence the name May Triptych, nothing to do with the month of May! He donated the triptych to the Louvre.
The colours move to the brighter rose and violet.
Maximilien Luce, The Seine near Herblay
Claude Monet, A Corner of the Apartment
Claude Monet, Tulip field in Holland
Claude Monet, Waterlily pond and footbridge
One of many, many paintings Monet did of this pond in his garden at Giverny.
And my top favourite, Claude Monet, the Cathedral at Rouen in full sunlight. I have seen other versions of this as he painted the cathedral at different times of the day. This was the first time to see the cathedral in direct light.
Wonderful exhibition and really well done with an interesting transition between paintings along the theme of colours. Not just a collection of random paintings grouped together, I really liked the colour theme. For me at least, it did begin with the rather dull blacks and whites and I loved the progression to more colour and then it finished with the more vibrant roses and violets.
The Art Gallery of South Australia is hosting a wonderful exhibition of impressionist paintings. This exhibition closes on July 29th and I've gone to see it (twice!) in the past few weeks.
The paintings are from the Musee d'Orsay's collection of impressionist paintings, the museum holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world. So there were a few to choose from! The theme of this exhibition was 'Colours of Impressionism' and the paintings on display were grouped to reflect that theme.
The first time I went to the exhibition I just looked and enjoyed the artwork, but was surprised that people were allowed to photograph the paintings. Generally in art galleries and places that have major artworks, photography isn't allowed. So the next time I went I quite happily looked and then photographed my favourites!
I've been to quite a few touring exhibitions in the Art Gallery of South Australia and generally they have been in the new wing, this one was different as it was held in the 19th century heritage wing that normally houses Australian colonial art. The galleries themselves have been repainted to house this exhibition. The statue of Eros, made from the same moulds as the one in Piccadilly Circus in London.
The exhibition begins with the colour (shade?) black.
Madame Darras looked very familiar, it turns out this was a study, (a close up picture) for his major piece, Riding in the Bois de Boulogne. She's the lady on the horse!
The colour theme then moves to white and snow pictures.
The artist Caillebotte has an interesting story, his name appears as a donor to quite a few of the artworks. It seems as well as being an artist he was a collector as he came from quite a well off family and was able to purchase the works of his friends who included Monet, Renoir and Pissarro. He bequeathed his collection to the French State after his death in 1894, as impressionism wasn't considered highbrow enough, Caillebotte had been concerned that his collection would be broken up and distributed to provincial museums. He stipulated that the paintings had to be displayed at the Luxembourg Palace (for living artists) and then the Louvre.
The French government wouldn't agree to these terms but 2 years after his death agreed to take 38 paintings and display them at the Luxembourg Palace. The remaining paintings were offered again in 1904 and in 1908 and both times were rejected by the government. By the 1920s impressionism had become valued and the government tried to claim them in 1928, Caillebotte's brother's widow had the will repudiated and sold the remaining paintings. (The government had their chance!) That's why a number of the paintings on display are listed as the Gustave Caillebotte Bequest.
This exhibition certainly increased my art history knowledge and I was curious about the very English name of this artist. Each time I looked at his paintings before reading the sign I thought it was a Monet painting. Turns out he was born in Paris to British parents and he lived most of his life in France and died there. According to art historians his work resembled Monet's in style and subject matter (so my first impression was correct then) Sisley's are more subdued and were overshadowed by Monet's. Basically he made very little money from his art!
We now move into colour, greens and blues.
Lucien Pissarro was the son of Camille and an artist in his own right.
Alfred Sisley, Saint-Denis Island/Camille Pissarro, Entrance to Village of Voisins/Claude Monet,Pleasure Boats
These pictures were displayed at the 1889 World's Fair and each artist painted a favoured scene not far from where they lived. The Triptych was bought by a banker called Ernest May, hence the name May Triptych, nothing to do with the month of May! He donated the triptych to the Louvre.
The colours move to the brighter rose and violet.
One of many, many paintings Monet did of this pond in his garden at Giverny.
And my top favourite, Claude Monet, the Cathedral at Rouen in full sunlight. I have seen other versions of this as he painted the cathedral at different times of the day. This was the first time to see the cathedral in direct light.
Wonderful exhibition and really well done with an interesting transition between paintings along the theme of colours. Not just a collection of random paintings grouped together, I really liked the colour theme. For me at least, it did begin with the rather dull blacks and whites and I loved the progression to more colour and then it finished with the more vibrant roses and violets.
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