Following the success of the
Masterpieces From Paris exhibition, which drew over half a million visitors to the nation's capital last year, the
National Gallery of Australia in Canberra is again set to attract thousands of art lovers when it unveils its blockbuster Renaissance exhibition in December.
Featuring over 70 masterpieces by some of the leading exponents of
High and Early Renaissance painting, the exhibition will showcase breathtaking works of art completed in the 15th and 16th centuries by painters from northern and central Italy.
Raphael, Botticelli, Bellini and Titian are the big names featured in this amazing exhibition which is a must-see for both Renaissance enthusiasts and anyone wishing to experience the magnificent creativity that occurred during this period. Lesser-known artists such as Tura, Crivelli, Lotto, Carpaccio, Perugino and Moroni will also have their paintings featured and will prove a happy discovery for visitors unfamiliar with their work.
The National Gallery of Australia's exhibition is possible because the painting's permanent home, the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy, is being closed for renovations. Australian officials had been in touch with the Academia Carrara for several years regarding the possibility of staging the event, but it took a direct plea from NGA director Ron Radford, who travelled to Bergamo, to ensure the exhibition could take place. The paintings have never left Europe before, so this is an event not to be missed and unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
Renaissance begins on the 9th of December and runs until the 9th of April, 2012. Tickets are $25 plus booking fees, with various concessions and group ticket options available. Combined accommodation and gallery entry packages are available and make a smart choice for Sydneysiders wishing to visit the exhibition. The
VisitCanberra website is a good resource and lists all transport, accommodation and gallery entry options.
Canberra is a three hour drive from Sydney's CBD via the M5 and Hume Highway. Air, rail and coach services also connect the two cities. It's possible to visit Canberra on a day trip, but it's an awfully long day, especially if you are trying to take in 70 spectacular Renaissance paintings. It's best to to make a weekend of it.
