Press Releases

The collection of Impressionist art at the National Museum & Gallery in Cardiff is one of the best collections in the UK outside London. This exhibition examines major Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works from the Welsh and Scottish national art collections. It concentrates on the patrons who brought together these paintings and sculptures, eventually bequeathing them to the two institutions, the impact this had on the existing collections and the lasting influence of such generosity on subsequent artists.

The remarkable Welsh sisters, Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, purchased their first Impressionist paintings in 1912 and bequeathed outstanding groups of works to the National Museum of Wales in 1952 and 1963. Meanwhile, in Scotland in 1914, Sir Alexander Maitland and his wife Rosalind began to amass their magnificent collection. This was gifted and bequeathed to the National Gallery of Scotland in 1960 and 1965.

With the generous support of these benefactors, the two national collections in Scotland and Wales raised their holdings of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art to international status. This is the first time their collections have been compared, and the first time the National Museums & Galleries of Wales and the National Galleries of Scotland have collaborated

The similarities and differences between the two collections are illustrated by a selection of loans including major works such as The Three Tahitians by Paul Gauguin, purchased by the Maitlands in the 1930s and Group of Dancers by Degas. Paintings by such artists were not represented in the Davies collection. The Davies and Maitland collections were for many years hanging in their respective homes in mid-Wales and Edinburgh where they were known and admired by a select group of connoisseurs.

Once in public collections, the impact of such works on other leading artists was wide. The exhibition goes on to explore this with a selection of works from the National Museum's collection by Ceri Richards, Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, Terry Frost and a direct response by Carol Robertson to Cardiff's Rain-Auvers by Van Gogh.

This exchange with Scotland coincides with the publication of the first book on the Impressionist collections in Cardiff for over twenty years. Colour and Light will be launched at the Hay Festival in June 2005. A number of related activities have been arranged as part of the celebration.

The press viewing for this exhibition takes place at the National Museum & Gallery at 9.30 am on Friday 15 April. Dr Ann Sumner, Curator of Fine Art, will introduce the exhibition and will also be on hand to answer any questions regarding the works on display.

The National Museum & Gallery is one of the National Museums & Galleries of Wales' six sites across Wales. The other sites are Big Pit: National Mining Museum - a finalist in this year's prestigious Gulbenkian Prize - the National Wooll Museum, Dre-fach, Felindre, the Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, the Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon and the Welsh Slate Museum, Llanberis. The National Waterfront Museum, Swansea, telling the story of industry and innovation in Wales, opens its doors in autumn 2005.

Entry to all national museums is free of charge, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.