A new exhibition, European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has opened in Brisbane.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the exhibition, at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), featured 65 paintings spanning 500 years.
“This is the only show The Met is touring in 2021,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It’s one of the finest collections of European painting, which rarely leave permanent display in New York and will be accessible right on our doorstep,” she said.
“At a time when we cannot visit New York ourselves, for four months visitors from all over Australia will come to Brisbane to see a little bit of New York City’s Metropolitan Museum at South Bank.”
Minister for the Arts, Leeanne Enoch said the exhibition would transform the GOMA with rich colours to best feature the majesty of the breathtaking works of art from some of the greatest European painters of all time.
“The exhibition will begin in the 1420s with The Crucifixion by Fra Angelico and conclude in 1919, at the height of early 20th century post-impressionism, with one of Monet’s late Water Lilies,” Ms Enoch said.
“There are also works by Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh, Titian, Raphael, Cézanne and Vermeer telling the cultural stories and revealing historic insights that chart Western art’s most iconic movements.”
Director of the GOMA, Chris Saines said visitors would experience the exquisite collection of paintings in impressively designed, purpose-built spaces inspired by period European architecture.
“Over three chapters, European Masterpieces traces the development of art and artists from a time when creativity was closely controlled through the patronage of Church and State, to a period in which our contemporary idea of the independent artist was born,” Mr Saines said.
European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York runs until 17 October.
