Monet Exhibits at Te Papa Wellington New Zealand
Works by Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Pissaro and other Impressionists
Mar 13, 2009
From February 22 until May 17, 2009, Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum, offers a program of entertaining talks, live music, films and fun classes to accompany the showing of Monet and the Impressionists. Visitors to Te Papa will enjoy this rare opportunity to view 27 works by Claude Monet including masterpieces from the Rouen Cathedral, Haystack, and Water Lily series.
Monet and other Impressionists Sparked a Revolution in the Art WorldMonet’s works are shown alongside those of other mavericks of the late-19th century art world who broke from tradition with their revolutionary style of painting. Degas, Cézanne, Pissaro, Renoir, Sisley and Courbet. are featured as well as the Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige whose woodblock prints were a strong influence, not only on Monet’s painting, but also on the planning of his gardens at Giverny.
This largest and richest collection of Impressionist art ever to come to New Zealand can be viewed in the Platinum Gallery on Te Papa’s 4th level. The works are organised chronologically around the viewing area, from the mid-19th century "Twilight" by Jean-Baptiste-Cammille Corot, to the early 20th century "Water Lilies" by Monet, and Edgar Degas’ "Dancer looking at the sole of her right foot".
Water Lilies and the Petite Creuse Paintings are Luminous WorksWhen Monet first began showing his paintings, his Impressionist style was ridiculed. Perhaps this is not so difficult to understand when, even today, the fluorescent luminosity of works such as the 1889 series of the Petite Creuse, remains dazzling to the first-time viewer. In other works, rich colour applied with a multitude of varied brushstrokes captures the brilliance of summer days, snowscapes and dappled light, and shapes the textures of flowers, grass and clothing. In contrast, the 1905 "Water Lilies" provides tranquil contemplation for the eye with its subtle, glowing shades of pink and fathomless darks.
Monet and the Impressionists is on loan from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts in association with the Art Gallery of New South Wales Australia. According to New Zealand writer and gardening guru, Maggie Barry in the NZ Listener February 29, 2009, the exhibition is estimated to have a value of between $500 million and $1 billion.
A Number of Impressionist-Inspired Events Accompany the ExhibitionRunning concurrently with the exhibition are a number of Impressionist-inspired events. These include floor talks, discussions, lectures, films and music as well as guided walks and plein air art classes in the Wellington Botanic Garden. There are also evenings of French art and culture, French language classes for children and a display of children’s origami water lilies. An entry fee applies to some of these activities.
Monet and the Impressionists can be viewed from 10am – 6pm daily at Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum on Cable Street in Wellington. Adult entry is $15. Buses run half-hourly from the airport to Courtenay Place, just a short walk from the museum on Wellington's waterfront. If you are carrying a oversized handbag be prepared to leave it at the reception desk before entering the gallery.
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