Impressionists at the Shelburne Museum

"In a New Light: French Impressionism Comes to America" continues at Vermont's Shelburne Museum until September 1. It is housed in the beautiful new Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education, near the entrance to the extensive, park-like grounds of the museum. In the photo below, you can see one of the haystacks that have been created in homage to Monet's paintings.

Pizzagalli Center, Shelburne Museum,
with natural wood and stone throughout

The exhibit highlights the Impressionist paintings from the Shelburne's collection, and also includes works on loan from private collectors and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Of note is Monet's Le Pont, Amsterdam, the centrepiece of the show. It was the first painting by Monet acquired by an American collector, bought by the parents of the Shelburne Museum's founder, Electra Havemeyer Webb.

Le Pont - Amsterdam, Claude Monet, 1874

The title of the show, "In a New Light", refers to the fact that until the recent opening of the Pizzagalli Center, the fine paintings in the Shelburne collection were shown in historic homes, without gallery lighting.

With about two dozen paintings by Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, the show is certainly worth a visit if you are in the area. Informative notes in English and French are posted beside each work.

Guided tours are available daily at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.