Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and other luminaries of modern art take centre stage at the this summer. Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore opens on May 26th and features nearly 50 paintings, sculpture and drawings from one of the worlds great holdings of early European Modernism. The Baltimore Museum of Art has the largest collection of work by Matisse in the world. This exclusive Canadian presentation includes a selection of signature works by Matisse, providing a rare overview of one of the most acclaimed artists of the twentieth century.
It is wonderful to have the opportunity to present so many important works from the Cone Collection, said Gallery director Kathleen Bartels. This exhibition includes 27 works by Matisse, as well as works from the mid-to-late 19th century by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, among others. We are pleased to partner with The Baltimore Museum of Art and The Jewish Museum, New York to bring this exhibition to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»this summer.
Noted works in the exhibition include Matisses Large Reclining Nude and Striped Robe, Fruit and Anemones, Picassos Blue period Woman with Bangs, and Gauguins Tahitian masterpiece Vahine no te vi (Woman of the Mango).
Claribel and Etta Cone were early patrons of the avant-garde art of their time. During frequent trips to Europe beginning in the early 1900s, the American sisters amassed an important collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture and decorative art. Through Gertrude Stein and her family, the Cone sisters were introduced to Matisse and Picasso and became important patrons of their art. The sisters eventually collected nearly three thousand works of art, including more than five hundred works by Matisse alone. Claribel and Etta made arrangements to leave their entire collection to The Baltimore Museum of Art, along with a wealth of personal photographs and papers documenting the formation of the collection. A selection of this archival material is included in the exhibition.
"Were delighted that the Cone Collection is being shown in Vancouver," said Katy Rothkopf, senior curator and department head of European painting and sculpture at The Baltimore Museum of Art, "It is a rare event that such a major portion of the Cone collection is travelling, and we are delighted to introduce Canadians to the lives of the two remarkable women who created such a marvelous collection of European modernism."
The exhibition is organized by The Baltimore Museum of Art, The Jewish Museum, New York and the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery.
An 80-page exhibition catalogue, co-published by The Jewish Museum and Yale University Press, contains 62 colour and 18 black-and-white illustrations. The catalogue is available in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Art Gallery Store.
