- Published:
- Thursday 2 April 2015
Masterworks from the personal collection of Russian Empress Catherine the Great will go on show at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) this July as part of the blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series, Premier Daniel Andrews announced today.
The Australian-exclusive exhibition Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great will feature more than 400 works, including paintings by Rembrandt, Velasquez, Rubens and Titian, alongside stunning decorative art pieces that will give visitors an insight into the life, and loves, of the influential ruler.
Catherine the Great reigned from 1762-1796, a period of cultural renaissance for Russia. She was regarded as the nation’s foremost patron of the arts, literature and education and founded The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. It is now one of the most visited museums in the world and is renowned for holding the world’s finest collection of paintings.
Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great is one of two Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibitions that will be significant creative drawcards for the city this winter. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image will host David Bowie Is, an exhibition charting the career of one of the music world’s great chameleons.
Since it was established in 2004, the Victorian Government’s Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition series has attracted more than 4.7 million attendees and injected close to $380 million into the State economy.
The Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great will run from July 31 – November 8, 2015 at NGV International.
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“Another major event for Melbourne, Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great will provide visitors with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see first-hand the extraordinary personal collection of Catherine the Great.”
“This exhibition will continue the National Gallery of Victoria’s tradition of bringing some of the biggest names in the art world to Melbourne each winter. It will be another drawcard for Australia’s most popular gallery and further strengthen Melbourne’s position as the nation’s home of arts, culture and major events.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley
“From Russia’s ‘golden age’ to David Bowie’s ‘Golden Years’, the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series will transport visitors into the minds of two icons who lived ages apart but who each left a creative legacy that is felt across the globe today.”
“These exhibitions are set to be hot tickets this winter season, offering creative opportunities for visitors of all ages. We look forward to welcoming them to Melbourne.”