French Masters

Celebrating both it’s 15th annivesary and 50 years of diplomatic relations between France and China, the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) is bringing to China 12 masterpieces of French painting that symbolise the most famous museums of France – Musée d’Orsay, Château de Versailles, Musée du Louvre and the Centre Pompidou – for the Masterpieces of Painting from French National Museums exhibition.

 

According to MAM, the 12 great masterpieces on show were created in different eras, in widely opposed political contexts, yet all embody a certain idea of France, each after its own fashion. The force of these works, what they represent as much as the emotions they convey, have contributed to shaping the physiognomy of France through the centuries, and are still responsible for its prestige abroad.

 

With so many diverse pieces on show, which one is most likely to resonate with local audiences?  Exhibition curator, Ms. Cécile Maisonneuve, thinks there is one painting in particular that will leave a lasting mark. 

 

“I think local visitors might best know artists such as Monet or Picasso. But, in my opinion, the painting that will resonate most with local visitors will be ‘Still Life with a Magnolia’ by Matisse. You do not need a historical or artistic background to understand what the painting is about and appreciate it at first glance. You just need to be receptive to colour and shape and let yourself be overwhelmed with emotions”, she comments. 

 

Interestling, the painting also features some very subtle references to the East.

 

“There is a very nice veiled reference to Chinese culture. Among the objects around the beautiful flower, on the left, you can see a vase whose shape and patterns seem inspired by Chinese ceramics,” explains Maisonneuve. “Then, there is the Magnolia in the middle, which is even more important. Today, French gardens are full of Magnolia. Maybe people, even Matisse when he painted it, do not remember, but in fact the Magnolia was a precious gift from China to Europe. In a way, even indirectly, the painting is a nice and delicate tribute to cultural exchanges between the East and the West”.

 

Masterpieces of Painting from French National Museums is certainly going to be a rare opportunity to experience French history in Macau. 

 

“This exhibition is a unique and exceptional opportunity to display side by side masterpieces, which can tell five centuries of painting history. Some, such as the impressionist works, may be more popular in the world, but each one represents a golden age in the history of France and art”, notes the curator.  “It was essential to bring in artists that Chinese people already know about, but also to introduce others, which are as famous in France. We wanted French painting to be accessible to a large audience and took special care to tell stories, to explain, and to give some key information. With the help of the scenography, visitors will have the impression that they are half-opening the door of French national museums at a distance of thousands and thousands of miles away”.

 

Putting together such a momentous project was, unsurprisingly, a complex process. The actual selection of the paintings to be displayed even more so.

 

“The selection of the paintings was discussed between ministers, lending museums, RMN-Grand Palais and MAM. It was quite a complex process, because the exhibition had to be organized in such a short time. The selection criteria were: famous artists, emblematic paintings, availability, conservation and security”.

 

The 12 paintings on display will invite the public to consider paintings that have become “icons” beyond the museums that hold them. Like theatres of light and shadow, these masterpieces of painting are where forms take shape and illuminate the canvas, where figures come alive and tell stories of French art and French culture as a whole.