78 | GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com
THE ARTS
EXHIBIT: Monet to Matisse
St. Petersburg's Museum of Fine Arts, in celebration of its 50th anniversary,
presents Monet to Matisse – On the French Coast, open from February 7 to
May 31. Masterpieces created by French artists are a hallmark of the museum's
impressive permanent collection, and four are included in this exhibition. Other
exceptional paintings featured were gathered from private and public collections
throughout North America and Europe, and this is the first time the majority of
these works have been seen in Florida. is exhibition compares Modernist and
Impressionist visions of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of France for the
first time ever, both of which fundamentally influenced many of Europe's most
famed painters.
Monet to Matisse kicks off a year-long golden anniversary celebration, during
which the museum will focus on its mission to "present artistic excellence, educate
the public, and connect with the community and visitors." Opening on the same
day the museum opened 50 years ago, this exhibition features nature, leisure,
harbors, working ports and the allure of the coasts. Major artists spotlighted
include Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse,
Pablo Picasso, Paul Signac, Max Beckmann and brothers Raoul and Jean Dufy.
Many of the beach and port works are reminiscent of the Tampa Bay area,
and the museum hopes this will encourage visitors to appreciate the beauty of
their hometown. Monet to Matisse – On the French Coast brings France to St.
Petersburg and allows viewers to personally explore the settings that inspired some
of the world's most famed artists.
By Juliane Pinkham Beard
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