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Masterpieces of European Art Opens February 10 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On February 10, the Corcoran Gallery of Art will open Masterpieces of European Art, a salon-style installation of masterworks from the Corcoran's permanent collection of European paintings and decorative arts.
Masterpieces of European Art will showcase French fine and decorative arts, Italian Renaissance Maiolica, Dutch paintings, French furniture and tapestries, and British portraiture and landscapes dating from the 15th through 19th centuries.
Featuring selections from the Corcoran's William Andrews Clark Collection, and supplemented with other works acquired during the past 100 years, this exhibition is the first from the collection to be organized by the Corcoran's new Director and President Paul Greenhalgh.
"The Corcoran has a magnificent collection that ranges across the Western tradition-from the classical period to the present day-and we are committed to sharing this collection with our public. This exhibition is a wonderful introduction to our historic collections, featuring breath-taking paintings, tapestries, ceramics and furniture," Greenhalgh said. "These pieces are displayed in their full glory-giving this exhibition the feel of a spectacular treasure trove. All art is, ultimately, about pleasure and this is an intense, sensuous treat for the eyes."
Artists represented in Masterpieces of European Art include Jean-Simeon Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, Eugene Delacroix, Honore Daumier, Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Peter Lely, Jean-Francois Millet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Rembrandt van Rijn (attributed), Jacob van Ruissdael, Alfred Sisley, Jan Steen, Gerard Ter Borch, J.M.W. Turner and Jan Van Goyen.
Much of the work on display in Masterpieces of European Art is part of an extraordinary bequest of European art given to the Corcoran by Senator William Andrews Clark. Industrialist, politician, philanthropist and art-lover, Clark is one of the greatest benefactors in the Gallery's history. In the years immediately following Clark's death, his family contributed funds to construct a new wing at the Corcoran to house the Clark Collection. In addition, several works displayed in the exhibition were given by Edward C. and Mary Walker. In 1937, the Walkers bequeathed a collection of paintings to the Corcoran, including a number of major French and English works.
Masterpieces of European Art will be on view through September 2007.
HOURS
From February 10 to March 16, the Corcoran will be open on weekends only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission for guests. Beginning on March 17, the hours of operation will be as follows: Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Tuesday. For more information, visit http://www.corcoran.org/ or call .
ABOUT THE CORCORAN
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, a privately funded institution, was founded in 1869 as Washington's first and largest non-federal museum of art. It is known internationally for its distinguished collection of historical and modern American art as well as contemporary art, photography, European painting, sculpture and the decorative arts. Founded in 1890, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington's only four-year college of art and design offering BFA degrees in Photojournalism, Digital Media Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography; AFA degrees in Digital Media Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography; a five-year Bachelor of Fine Arts/Master of Arts in Teaching (BFA/MAT); and a two-year Master of Arts (MA) in Interior Design or History of Decorative Arts. The College's Continuing Education program offers part-time credit and non-credit classes for children and adults and draws more than 2,500 participants each year.
Contact: Rebecca Gentry, VP of Institutional Advancement
Kristin Guiter, Manager of Media Relations
,
Source: Corcoran Gallery of Art
CONTACT: Rebecca Gentry, VP of Institutional Advancement,
, or Kristin Guiter, Manager of Media Relations,
, , both of the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Web site: http://www.corcoran.org/
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