ART connoisseurs in Australia will become the first in the world to enjoy works from the Burrell Collection on home soil.
Four paintings by Edgar Degas will form part of a major exhibition in Melbourne billed as the significant tribute to the Impressionist master for decades
The show signifies a major milestone for both the Burrell Collection and the history of Glasgow’s city art collection, with the artworks making their international debut.
Works from the Burrell Collection, held in a museum in the south side of Glasgow, are now allowed to be loaned to foreign countries following the passing of the Burrell Collection Bill, which received Royal Assent in February 2014.
The Degas paintings were part of the famous collection gifted to the Glasgow by shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944, who made strictures that art could not leave the city, as he was concerned for the potential for loss at sea.
Sir Angus Grossart, chair of Burrell Renaissance, said: “Iconic works from the Burrell Collection are, at last, able to be united with other significant work, providing an unparalleled survey of the life of this extraordinary artist and bringing a new level of understanding of his working methods, his subjects and of those who collected his work.
“This underlines the high international quality and potency of the Burrell Collection and confirms the merits of our strategy.
“We have high aspirations for other chapters of the collection.”
The group of four paintings to be loaned to The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, (NGV) includes The Rehearsal (La Repetition), painted in 1874, which is considered one of Degas’ masterpieces.
It was bought by Vincent van Gogh’s brother, Theo, in 1888 from fellow dealer Georges Petit for 5,220 French francs.
Sir William Burrell purchased the painting in July 1926 for £6,500.
It is joined by three other works: Group of Dancers, The Three Dancers and Girl Looking Through Field Glasses.
Showing until September 18, 'Degas: A New Vision', travels to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston from October 16, marking Texas as the second international location for Burrell Collection art.
Tony Ellwood, director of NGV, said: “Degas: A New Vision will provide audiences with a rare experience to truly be immersed in the creativity and originality of his art, giving visitors a deeper and richer understanding of his brilliance.”
Councillor Archie Graham, the depute leader of Glasgow City Council and chair of Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s galleries and museums, added: “The exhibition draws works from 65 collections in more than 40 cities across the globe.
“For works from the Burrell Collection to be included in such an internationally significant exhibition not only allows us to increase the international reputation of Sir William’s great gift, but also of the city he called home.”
The Burrell Collection museum will close this October for redevelopment works.
The museum, designed by Barry Gasson, will re-open in 2020 after a £66 million revamp which include a new roof and the basement brought into use.
The Burrell Collection has twenty-two works by Degas including pastels, oils and drawings.
James Robinson, director of Burrell Renaissance, said: “It is tremendously exciting to see the potential of the Burrell Collection released on the world stage in this ground-breaking exhibition.
“We anticipate many future collaborations of the same calibre drawing on similar outstanding strengths in the collection – whether medieval, Asian or Islamic art.”
The Burrell building has long needed an overhaul, with its leaking roof in particular a key issue.
The revamp, overseen by Scottish architect John McAslan, will see the artworks collected by Sir William Burrell over seventy years displayed almost in their entirety for the first time.
The current entrance will be closed.
Instead, the public will enter from what is now the side of the building, over a new, landscaped “civic events space”.
This new entrance will funnel the public into the centre of the building, where a new centre or orientation hub will be built.
The basement of the building will be opened up to the public and used as an exhibition floor.
This will be presented as a treasure trove, with artefacts, antiques, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, furniture and other items closely on display.
During closure an exhibition of works from the Burrell will be on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
An international tour will also showcase treasures from the collection, raising the collection’s profile worldwide and promoting Glasgow as one of the world’s great cultural cities.
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