European Masters: 19th–20th Century Art

European Masters: 19th–20th Century Art From The Städel Museum

6 November 2010–27 February 2011

Te Papa, with principal sponsor Accor, and associate sponsors Deutsche Bank, DHL Global Forwarding, Goethe-Institut, and Siemens, is delighted to confirm the exhibition European Masters: 19th–20th century art from the Städel Museum, opening on 6 November 2010 in the Visa Platinum Gallery. Te Papa is the only New Zealand venue.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for New Zealanders to see a major exhibition of 96 works by 70 artists from across six artistic movements through the 19th and 20th centuries. This exhibition has been curated by one of Europe’s finest and most respected art institutions, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. This is the first time that masterpieces from its collection have toured outside Europe.

Te Papa’s Acting Chief Executive and Kaihautū, Ms Michelle Hippolite, said today, ‘Te Papa is delighted to bring the works of artists such as Renoir, Degas, and Picasso to New Zealand audiences.

‘It is becoming increasingly difficult to bring exhibitions of this magnitude to New Zealand because of the prohibitive cost and the reluctance of lenders to allow their artworks to travel such long distances and to be away for months on end,’ Ms Hippolite added. ‘In this instance, we have the Städel Museum, the New Zealand Government, and our sponsors to thank for helping to make possible the exhibition’s only New Zealand venue.’

Spanning the dynamic and transformative years of the 19th and 20th century, the exhibition features works by the greatest German, French, Belgian, Dutch, and Swiss masters of the time. Included are iconic Neo-Classical, Realist, Impressionist, and Symbolist works, as well as remarkable German Expressionist paintings and sculpture. A high point in the exhibition is the inclusion of no fewer than ten works by Max Beckmann, the quintessential Expressionist artist.

Established in 1815, the Städel Museum was something completely new – a museum founded on the generosity of a single private collector. Initially comprising the personal art collection of Frankfurt banker and merchant, Johann Friedrich Städel, the museum has amassed works that now span seven hundred years of European art and is now one of the leading art museums of Germany.

Mr Max Hollein, Director of the Städel Museum, says ‘It is a privilege and a pleasure for all of us at Städel Museum to be able to exhibit our works in a museum as exceptional as Te Papa and thus to present them to the New Zealand public for the first time. We hope the visitors will share our enthusiasm and derive great enjoyment from these wonderful masterpieces of painting and sculpture.’

Paul Richardson, Vice President Accor New Zealand and Fiji, said ‘We would like to congratulate Te Papa and its staff who have worked to bring this outstanding exhibition to New Zealand. Our thanks also to the Städel Museum for its willingness to share these masterpieces with us.’

European Masters: 19th–20th century art from the Städel Museum has been curated by Felix Krämer. The exhibition is accompanied by a full-colour catalogue with essays from renowned art scholars, and a complementary events programme.

European Masters: 19th–20th century art from the Städel Museum is indemnified by the New Zealand Government, and was developed by the Städel Museum in partnership with Te Papa, the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, and the Fondation de l’Hermitage, Lausanne, Switzerland.

European Masters: 19th–20th century art from the Städel Museum

6 November 2010–27 February 2011

The Visa Platinum Gallery, Level 4

Admission charges apply.

ENDS

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