“Städel” Exhibition at Te Papa

European Masters of the 19th and 20th century have come to spend this year's summer season in New Zealand's capital. Te Papa Tongarera features 96 works by 70 of the greatest German, French, Spanish, Belgian, Dutch, and Swiss masters. The exhibition captures the dynamic and transformative years from across six artistic movements of the past two centuries and includes iconic Neoclassical, Realist, Impressionist and Symbolist works, as well as breathtaking German Expressionist paintings and sculptures. A high point in the exhibition is the inclusion of no fewer than ten works by Max Beckmann, the quintessential Expressionist artist. The exhibition has been curated by one of Europe’s finest and most respected art institutions, the renowned German „Städel“ Museum in Frankfurt am Main. Established in 1815, the Städel Museum was something completely new – a museum founded on the generosity of a single private collector: Johann Friedrich Städel. The current refurbishment of the Städel Museum has provided a rare opportunity to view these works outside of Germany, as it has become increasingly difficult to bring exhibitions of this magnitude to New Zealand due to the prohibitive costs and the reluctance of lenders to allow their artworks to travel such long distances and to be away for months on end.

The Te Pa Liegender Hund im Schnee, c.1911, by Franz Marc pa museum in Wellington will exhibit the European Masterpieces until Febuary 27th 2011 and one should bring at least 60 minutes time. No time limit is set, however, granting the opportunity to absorb as much of the impressive European Masters as possible. The rising number of visitors with up to a thousand on some days confirm the popularity of these wonderful works. It is the first time that masterpieces from its collection have toured outside Europe - so don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and have a look at the European Masters without having to travel the globe!