Speed Museum's Impressionist Exhibit Makes Quite an Impression
The advertisement for the new Impressionist exhibit at the Speed Art Museum is an attention-getter. “Show Me the Monet” a poster proclaims, a reference to French Impressionist Claude Monet, featured prominently in the museum’s new Impressionist exhibit.
In all, more than 70 paintings are included in the exhibit, “Impressionist Landscapes: Monet to Sargent.” Among the artists featured in the exhibit are Gustave Courbet, Georges Seurat, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Frederick Childe Hassam and John Singer Sargent.
Most of the pieces in the exhibit are large, colorful landscapes, created in the late-19th and early 20th centuries. They represent an important era in which artists left their studios and took their canvases outdoors. This “plein-air” sketching method was revealed in the work of Impressionist painters.
The works in the exhibit come from a variety of sources, including 38 from the Brooklyn Museum in New York. But what makes the exhibit unique is the inclusion of works by Kentucky artists. In addition, the Speed’s own Monet, “The Church at Varengeville, Grey Weather” fits right in with the brilliant works included. The Speed recently acquired another wonderful work, Sisley’s “The Hill Path: Ville d’Avray” which is included as well.
The Speed paired the landscape exhibition with a display of photographs from Stephen Shore, who captured the gardens that served as inspiration to Monet. “The Gardens at Giverny: A View of Monet’s World” includes photos of Monet’s famous gardens taken in 1974.
Monet is the star of this show. In addition to the aforementioned work owned by the Speed, the exhibit features three other works from the late-1800s. Guests of the exhibit pass from the display of photographs by Shore to the dazzling brilliance of the Impressionists.
The mix of scenes of French landscapes mixes with uniquely American scenes. One of the more dramatic pieces is by Julien Dupre called “In the Pasture.” Loaned by the University of Kentucky, the piece shows a farm worker struggling to control a cow. Another colorful piece by American Edward Ambrose Webster is a dramatic view of a house in Bermuda. Still, with so many works to choose from, it’s difficult to choose a favorite.
The museum is located on the University of Louisville Belknap campus. The works are displayed in several adjacent rooms. The exhibit continues through May 22.
Posted on Feb 22, 2011 by Rick Redding
