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'National Gallery to delight summer visitors with first ever exhibition of Impressionist interiors. Impressionist Interiors |
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Press Release May 2008 National Gallery of
Ireland The National Gallery of Ireland will delight visitors to Dublin this summer with an exceptional exhibition, Impressionist Interiors which opens in the Millennium Wing from 10 May to 10 August, supported by KPMG. The exhibition brings together over 45 wonderful paintings and drawings by Manet, Monet, Renoir, Morisot, Degas, Cassatt, Gauguin and Pissarro, on loan from public and private collections throughout Europe and the United States of America. It is the first serious survey of this particular dimension of Impressionism, and will show some of the many and varied ways in which Impressionists and artists within their circle engaged with interior spaces both public and private, domestic and social. Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, says: "Impressionist Interiors" is perhaps the most ambitious exhibition organised by the Gallery, which has been drawn from the very best examples of Impressionist interior paintings and drawings from among wonderful collections around the world. We are greatly indebted to those private lenders and public institutions who have generously allowed their works to be included in this exhibition." The exhibition has been made possible through the support of KPMG; the European Commission Representation in Ireland who are supporting the opening reception in the Millennium Wing on Friday 9 May (Europe Day); and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism who have supported the production of the accompanying catalogue. Terence O'Rourke, Managing Partner at KPMG, says: "In keeping with our commitment to the arts, KPMG is genuinely proud to play a role in supporting such an exciting project and to help make this exhibition possible. We hope that visitors will enjoy Impressionist Interiors." Impressionist Interiors features twelve paintings and pastels by Edgar Degas, among them; 'Portraits in a Cotton Office' (Museum of Fine Arts, Pau), 'The Convalescent' (J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles); 'After the Bath' (Philadelphia Museum of Art) and 'Café Concert at Les Ambassadeurs' (Museum of Fine Arts, Lyon). There are also some fine examples by Paul Gauguin who often brought the outside world into his symbolist interiors by incorporating details such as floral arrangements or wallpapers decorated with birds and plants, and who is represented in this show with 'The Painter's Home, rue Carcel' (National Museum, Oslo), 'Nude Study/ Woman Sewing' (Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen), and 'The Little Dreamer' (Odrupgaard, Copenhagen). Janet McLean, curator of the exhibition and editor of the accompanying catalogue says: "Artists associated with Impressionism did not just aspire to be painters of light and air but aimed to be modern artists and thereby painters of modern life." Édouard Manet, like Edgar Degas was essentially a painter of the modern interior. He said to Berthe Morisot: "you can do plein-air painting indoors, by painting white in the morning, lilac during the day and orange-toned in the evening". Manet's oil studies of 'A Bar at the Folies-Beregère' and 'The Ball at the Opéra' (Private Collection), are included in this exhibition, as well as 'Interior at Arcachon' (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Massachusetts). The exhibition includes a number of works by well-known women artists associated with Impressionism; Berthe Morisot, 'The Artist's Sister at a Window', (National Gallery of Art, Washington); 'Eugène Manet on the Isle of Wight' (Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris) and Mary Cassatt, 'Lydia at a Tapestry Frame' (Collection of the Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan). Also featured are Camille Pissarro, 'Minette' (Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art); Claude Monet, 'Interior, after Dinner' (National Gallery of Art, Washington) as well works by Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard. Also featured are some lesser-known artists who engaged with interior views, among them; Zacharie Astruc, Henri Gervex, Frédéric Bazille and Federico Zandomeneghi. The exhibition will be officially opened at a gala reception in the Millennium Wing on Friday 9th May, to mark Europe Day 2008. Martin Territt, Director of the European Representation in Ireland, says: "The European Commission Representation in Ireland is delighted to be associated with this very significant exhibition. The Impressionist tradition is an important part of our common European cultural heritage, yet it found its own unique expression in every country. It is fitting that we can mark Europe Day in such a way. The Impressionists have a special place in people's hearts across Europe and I am delighted to be part of bringing these beautiful works to the Irish public." Tickets to the exhibition may be purchased direct from the Gallery, by telephone (01) 663 3513 (no booking fee applies) or online through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.ie. Advance booking is advised. A timed-ticketing system will be in operation. Digital images available from the Gallery Press Office. Contact:
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